Best public-funded agri, allied science institutes

DESPITE two decades of liberalisation, agriculture and allied sectors are the mainstay of employment for a majority of Indians. And issues of improving yield, productivity, efficiency at all levels from farm to the market continue to plague the industry. Agricultural research is a dynamic field and the research goals have to be prioritized in accordance with the demand of the population, changing scenario of insect-pests and diseases, as well as biotic stresses says, Prof N Natarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Pulses Research.

While the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has 94 institutes collectively in agriculture, horticulture, animal sciences and fisheries, only some of them offer long-term academic programmes. Money definitely is an issue. India spends only 0.5 per cent of GDP on agricultural research as compared to more than 1 per cent by other developing countries, comments Dr A K Srivastava, Director, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal.

The largest academic institution within the system is the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) with over seven Master’s programmes in various disciplines. Forestry is another important domain of education in which public sector is the only significant player. “As the international trade barriers are coming down, we will have to develop a very competitive edge in all respects if India has to retain and increase its present position in the international trade,” concludes Dr M Anandaraj, Director, Indian Institute of Spices Research.
 

Dr A K Srivastava, Director, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal “Money will remain at the heart of the challenge facing the public- funded institutions in the coming decades. There has been only marginal increase in the fund for research in recent budgets” Dr P Jayasankar Director Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) “Public-funded institutions would become relevant only when the big gap between lab and farm is bridged. Novel programmes of the ICAR, such as FARMERFIRST are aimed at increasing production and productivity”