NIRDPR and IIMR collaborate to promote millet based livelihoods in rural development
The MoU comes in view of the International Year of Millets 2023
With an objective to promote millet based livelihoods in rural development activities, Hyderabad-based National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) and ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (ICAR-IIMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, February 22.
The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) 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 contribution 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. GV Raju, School Head, Dr Radhika Rani, Director, National Rural Livelihood Mission-RC, Dr. Surjit Vikraman, Dr. Nithya VG, Dr Venkatesh Bhat and Dr J. Stanley from NIRDPR and IIMR.
The main purpose of this MoU is to focus on different collaborative activities by sharing each others’ strengths to encourage rural incubation and entrepreneurship development by integrating with National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) activities; mainstreaming millet based livelihood strategies and value chain development in convergence with other programmes and in promoting millet based local food systems and agriculture-nutrition linkages through Gram Panchayat Development Plans, according to a press release.
Speaking on the occasion, Narendra Kumar 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 the strength of NIRDPR in creating business opportunities and marketing support through SHGs under NRLM across the country will act in synergy to transform rural livelihoods. The promotion of millets through micro enterprises will support their livelihoods and contribute to health and nutrition of population, NIRDPR said.
