Sharad Pawar calls for Public-Private Partnership in Agricultural R&D
New Delhi, 28 July 2010
“While the technology can be developed in the public sector organizations, the private sector, where the necessary experience, competencies and tools are more readily available; can be associated in commercialization, marketing, and distribution,” said Sharad Pawar, Union Minster of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution here today
While inaugurating the two-day ICAR- Industry Meet 2010 as Chief Guest, Pawar further emphasized the important role of such partnerships that will result in development of rural entrepreneurship and provide an enormous employment potential leading to improved farm earnings. We should move forward and work towards partnership for knowledge, prosperity and social good, he added. India’s National Policy on Agriculture recognizes the role of private sector in critical areas of agricultural research and human resource development. While appreciating the organization of the ICAR-Industry Meet, he called it a welcome step in right direction at the right time.
The Union Agriculture Minister also appreciated the professional approach of ICAR towards the Intellectual property management and technology transfer in an organized manner. He hoped that two-day discussions would result in generating new models of partnerships and incentives where the outcomes are not only commercially but also socially beneficial.
“These partnerships could also be helpful in fostering the much-needed linkages between inventor in the public sector, technology user in the private sector, and the farmer; who is the end user of technology,” said Professor K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution while presiding the Meet. It is crucial that each partner acts faithfully and legitimately to implement the partnership, he emphasized. The Meet would provide the right opportunity to the partners to communicate and exchange the ideas effectively and build and sustain trust through inter-personal and organizational relationships, he added.
Earlier, Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR elaborated the initiatives of the ICAR system to develop Public-Private Partnership and called this collaboration a win-win situation because in addition to Public and Private Sector, farmers will be benefited as well. He said that ICAR has customized region specific products which will be showcased during this Meet. More emphasize on innovation and interaction between Public-Private sectors may result in more synergy between them. He urged for long term partnership between these two sectors.
Industry representative Raju Barwale, Managing Director, Mahyco Seeds stressed on aggressive approach for Intellectual Property creation. He suggested ways and means to foster the Public-Private Partnership that will result in more production, productivity and more income for farmers. Another Industry representative, M. Prabhakar Rao, Chairman, NSL Group said that participative approach is needed for more productivity. ICAR may focus on technology development and industry may play its role by providing this technology as finished good to end users.
The Meet is organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with theme, ICAR-A Destination for Innovative Agro-Industry and Entrepreneurs, and provides an opportunity to the Industry and Enterprises of getting a glimpse of the ICAR Technology profile and its Technology Transfer Pursuits. The concurrent exhibition showcases the potential technologies under four themes: Seed and Planting Material; Diagnostics, Vaccines and Biotechnological Products; Farm Implements and Machinery; and Post-Harvest Engineering and Value Addition. The Meet is expected to enhance the learning experience and mutual trust and will also develop a better understanding among the innovators and industry for the future participatory or collaborative endeavors.
About 300 representatives from companies, federations, organizations and scientists from ICAR institutes are participating in the Meet.
Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Additional secretary, DARE and Secretary ICAR welcomed guests participating in the Meet.
(Source: NAIP sub-project on Mass Media Mobilization, DIPA)
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