The Hindu Business Line : Farm tech body to focus on post-harvest issues

THE Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has submitted a proposal to the Planning Commission for implementing the second phase of the World Bank-assisted National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), said Dr S.L. Mehta, National Director, NATP.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said the second phase of the NATP envisaged a total outlay of Rs 950 crore and would focus on technology development and dissemination.

An area selected for special attention in the proposed second phase of the NATP was post-harvest technology, he said. Once approval from the Planning Commission was received, the proposal would be forward to the World Bank for its support, he added.

Outlining the activities of the Costal Agro-ecosystem Directorate established under the aegis of the NATP, Dr Mehta said it currently operated over 50 projects in areas such as agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and so on.

This unit, which is based at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram was also working on several `institution-village linkage programmes, he added.

An integrated pest management system for tackling the rhinoceros beetle in coconut and development of a new methodology for the estimation of the coconut mite population are some of the unit's successful projects.

The Costal Agro-ecosystem Directorate had also supported projects that had developed pellet feed for mud crabs, starter feed for ducklings and a low-cost feed for pigs, said Dr Mehta.

The first phase of the NATP, which is currently on, involves a total outlay of Rs 992 crore. Objectives of this initiative include the development of agricultural technology with inputs from farmers and dissemination of technological innovations.

More Stories on : Agricultural Institutions

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Bengal hopes for bloom in floriculture

Rubber unchanged as buyers keep away

Spot gold may head lower

`Financial aid must to lure entrants into food processing'

`Biotech industry set for rapid growth in India'

Bio-2004 ends with optimism

Kerala milk co-op Milma ends tie-up with Mother Dairy

Farm tech body to focus on post-harvest issues

`Cotton demand to exceed output by end of 10th Plan'

Govt changes norms for pepper import — Move may benefit domestic market

Farm Income Insurance Scheme withdrawn