By Peter A. Smith
HYDERABAD - The State can become a major hub for economic growth in the agricultural sector, provided the Government complies with the scientific community, in terms of aiding research in the area. Speaking to authorities at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) revealed that the partnership with the Government of India has been growing even stronger in the recent years.
“India is the greatest beneficiary from Icrisat’s research, and in the recent years the funding support from formal and non-formal sources in India has been increasing for the international agricultural research centres in India,” sources at the institute said.
The Director General at the Institute, William Dar noted that “over the years, 181 improved varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut developed by Icrisat have been released in India, raising production and the income of small farmers substantially.” He also revealed that the total funding from various sources in India to Icrisat has grown from US$ 1.3 million in 2005 to US$ 4.6 million in 2008.
This would, according to Dar, have the potential for increasing agricultural productivity in the dryland areas in the State, while linking farmers with industry and market.
“With the hybrid Pigeon Pea, termed the ICPH 2671, expected to reach the farmers through the seed industry in 2008, there is expectation of an increase in pulse production in the country. The improved Pigeon Pea is expected to increase productivity by more than 30%, and has a greater tolerance to drought,” he said.
Similarly, through ICRISAT’s partnership-based research, the Institute was able to offer to India the world’s first successful project on producing ethanol from the sweet sorghum, “a project that could have immense industry potential,” he noted.
The Institute, in recent times has also been working in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), specifically in the research and development of the genomics of Pigeon Pea, Chickpea and Groundnut, which is slated to improve these crops through the use of agri-biotechnological tools.
The most recent initiatives that hold immense potential for advancement of agri-biotechnology research are the agreement between ICRISAT and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to establish a Centre of Excellence in Genomics (CEG) and a Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC). “While the CEG is already functional, the PTTC is expected to be commissioned in 2010”, the Director General revealed.
The success story has proved beneficial to farmers in Anantapur, said the Scientist.
“We have always been collaborating with the Andhra Pradesh Government on crop research.
In the recent years, Icrisat's groundnut variety – ICGV 91114 – has been widely accepted by the farmers of Anantapur, and is being planted by the farmers after being approved for release by the Andhra Pradesh Government, as it drought tolerant and has more yield,” he said.
The Institute’s chickpea varieties, namely Swetha, KAK 2, Kranthi and JG 11 have led to a 6-fold increase in chickpea area and 20-fold increase in production in the state, sources at the Institute confirmed.
Additionally, ICRISAT’s model for integrated watershed management was replicated by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 150 watersheds in the state, which led to an increase of agricultural productivity in these watershed villages from 28% to 120%, thereby leading to a higher profit for the farmers.
The Director General signed off saying: “The Agri-Science Park at ICRISAT is presently collaborating with the State Government to promote viable business ideas that can improve the utilisation of the dryland crops.”
Copyright © 2008 Express Buzz. All rights reserved.
