Patna: U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim, Michael Pelletier, and Consul General in Kolkata, Ms. Helen LaFave, commended the important work our two countries are doing to help farmers in Bihar improve agriculture productivity and cope with climate stresses. On their visit today to one of the projects supported by the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Bihar, they underscored that the U.S.-India partnership is based on the joint commitment to improve agriculture productivity and climate resilience, and increase farm profits. They 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 more than 300,000 people's lives in India. The officials met with state government officials, scientists, agricultural extension staff, and farmers.

The visit took place at the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Research Centre for Eastern Region, Sabajpura Farm, Patna, Bihar, 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 (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It supports India's 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.