Agriculture - Current Affairs for February, 2016

a-IDEA, technology business incubator of NAARM or National Academy of Agricultural Research Management has entered into a memorandum of agreement with National Research Development Corporation for supporting agribusiness startups. a-IDEA is funded by DST. As part of the agreement between the two, NRDC shall provide services like Technology Management, Mentoring Services, Value Addition Services, Skill Development and Cluster Development as well as Seed Fund support to agri based startups.

Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology and a group of top UK research institutions signed MOU for establishment of a joint India-UK collaboration programme in crop science. The aim of the agreement is to enhance collaborative research, promote knowledge exchange, and support capacity building to develop resilience in food security. All parties agreed on the importance of crop science as an area of enormous potential for scientific collaboration, and of great importance for global food security in India and beyond. Agreement checks on collaboration in fundamental science underpinning yield enhancement, disease resistance and drought resistance; research into crop re-breeding; and the translation of fundamental research into sustainable agriculture practice. It also contemplates the establishment of a joint Indo-UK Plant Science Centre in India.

In a scientific breakthrough which will enhance accelerated gene discovery and development of improved peanut/groundnut cultivars, high quality sequencing of the ancestral genomes of the crop has been developed leading to peanut varsities with better pod and oil yield, higher disease as well as drought and heat resistance and better oil quality. Breakthrough was made by IPGI or International Peanut Genome Initiative led by the US University of Georgia researchers. Roots of the original wild genomes of, Arachis duranensis (V14167, A-genome ancestor) and A.ipaensis (K30076, B-genome ancestor) have been traced to a wild plant from Bolivia, which is a "living relic" of the prehistoric origins of the cultivated peanut species. Peanut grown today results from hybridisation of these 2 wild species and ancestors were two different species.

India and Armenia signed an MoU for cooperation in the agricultural sector and envisaged numerous priority sectors such as plant breeding, agricultural crop seed breeding, buffalo breeding, plant protection, milk production and processing as well as agrarian education. MoU also provides for establishing a JWG and preparation of Work Plans and will be valid for 5 years and extendable beyond five.

Cabinet has provided ex-post factor approval to as many as 13 MoUs in the field go agriculture, for cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors. The 13 countries are Cyprus, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Israel, Nepal, Netherlands, Bhutan, Mauritius, Chile, Tanzania, Suriname, Syria and Zambia. MoUs have been signed for capacity building, exchange of knowledge and genetic resources and development of suitable technologies and farm practices for increasing productivity.

To provide the impetus of the food processing sector in MP, first Mega Food Park within the state was set up at Village Panwa, Tehsil Kasarwad, District Khargone. A 2nd Mega Food Park has been sanctioned in the Dewas district of MP. Mega Food Park has been set up with the project cost of Rs.127.70 crore in an area of 53.78 acres. The park will have facilities of 3000 MT Cold Storage, 9000 MT Dry Warehouse, Instant Quick Freeze (IQF) 5 MT per hour, modern Quality Control lab and other processing facilities for fruits and vegetables. The Mega Food Park is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to about 6000 people and benefit about 25,000 to 30,000 farmers in its catchment area.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute has released 7 varieties of field crops including pigeon pea, mustard, rice, wheat and chickpea along with 11 varieties of HYV agricultural and horticultural produce during 2015. These varieties are resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses and have enhanced nutritional quality. The flagship institute of ICAR, IARI has announced the release of these varieties during its 54th convocation. Varieties include newly developed pigeon pea/arhar dal and mustard.

7 of the 11 varieties are of varying horticultural products. This includes cauliflower or Pusa Betakesari, Sarda melon or Pusa Sarda, Musk melon or Pusa Madhurima and Marigold or Pusa Bahar. These are high yielding varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops.

Intellectual Property Appellate Board has registered Basmati Rice for a GI or Geographical Indications Registry . 7 month Indian Basmati rice producing states in India will now carry the GI tag. GI tag can be issued for manufactured, natural or agricultural goods. Products sold with this tag attract premium pricing and gain protection from WTO.