Patna | India - U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell underscored the important work our two countries are doing to help small farmers reduce costs and improve crop production.  On her visit today to one of the projects supported by the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Bihar, Powell underscored that the U.S.-India partnership is based on the joint commitment to improve agriculture productivity and climate resilience, and increase farm profits.  She also commented on how the success of CSISA is a great example of the United States and India working side-by-side, and making a positive difference in people’s lives.  Powell met with state government officials, scientists, agricultural extension staff, and women farmers. 

The visit took place at the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Research Center for Eastern Region, which serves as a demonstration site that showcases new technologies and farm management practices to farmers in Bihar.  These technologies and practices can significantly increase productivity.

The CSISA project is jointly funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  It supports efforts to improve cereal production growth in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Orissa.  Such efforts utilize improved cropping systems, better management of natural resources, development of new cereal varieties and hybrids, and increased public and private investments in markets.  

In Bihar, the CSISA hub operates out of Patna, where new high-yielding, heat- and water-stress-tolerant varieties of rice and wheat and associated technologies are developed, tested, and adopted.  CSISA also helps small farmers come together to access cost saving innovations and technologies.