The FAO has recognised the efforts of the tribal community of Koraput, Orissa, by making their traditional method of farming a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). A formal announcement of their GIAHS status was delivered by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 99th Session of the Indian Science Congress, held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), from 3-7 January 2012. He congratulated the tribal community for the global recognition towards conserving bio-diversity and developing climate resilient farming systems. Dr. Alexander Mueller, Assistant Director-General, Natural Resources Management and Environment Department, FAO, Rome, also highlighted the service of the tribal community towards sustainable agricultural systems. Other GIAHSs include the Maasai pastoral system in Kenya and Tanzania and Ifugao rice terraces in the Philippines.