With an aim to promote Millet Based livelihood amplified by rural development activities, the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR) Hyderabad and ICAR – Indian Institute of Millets Research (ICAR-IIMR) Hyderabad has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at NIRD Complex.
The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), is a premier institution in rural development and Panchayati Raj under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. Established in 1958, the institution has made significant contributions to social and economic development of rural India for more than six decades. The Indian Institute of Millets Research,also with a history of more than six decades, is the premier agricultural research institute engaged in basic and strategic research on millets under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The MoU was signed by Dr G Narendra Kumar, IAS, Director General (NIRDPR) and Dr. Vilas A Tonapi, Director, ICAR-IIMR in the presence of Prof. G.V. Raju, School Head, Dr. Radhika Rani, Director, National Rural Livelihood Mission-RC, Dr. Surjit Vikraman, Dr. Nithya V.G. Dr.Venkatesh Bhat and Dr J. Stanley from NIRDPR and IIMR.
The primary aim of signing the agreement is to focus on different collaborative activities by sharing each other strengths; (a) to encourage Rural Incubation and Entrepreneurship development by integrating with National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) activities, (b) mainstreaming millet based livelihood strategies and value chain development in convergence with other programmes and promoting millet based local food systems and agriculture-nutrition linkages through Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G. Narendra Kumar IAS, emphasized that the collaboration between the two institutions is very important in the background of the International year of Millets in 2023. He opined that technical competence of IIMR in research on millet varieties and making value added products from them and creating business opportunities and marketing support through SHGs under NRLM across the country will help transform rural livelihoods. The promotion of millets through micro enterprises will support their livelihoods and contribute to the health and nutrition of the population.
