Agri sector's new challenges need PPP growth model: Pawar

Agriculture industry faces new challenges from domestic and emerging global environment, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today, calling for a public-private partnership to develop research infrastructure in this sector.

"Agriculture today is facing new challenges in the light of national necessities and emerging global environment. Degradation of natural resources and unpredictable shifts in climatic patterns have been impacting the farming practices," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said.

The Minister, in his inaugural address at the interface between Vice Chancellors of agriculture universities and directors of ICAR institutes and Directors' conference here stressed on the need to strengthen the agricultural research infrastructure with public-private partnership.

"Requisite models of public-private partnerships must be evolved for educational activities as well as for development, application and flow of technologies from lab to the market place," he added.

The minister said the agriculture sector was facing competition after opening up of the economies dues to globalisation, ethical issues of trade related intellectual property rights, genetically modified foods and organisms and enforcement of strict quality regimes need immediate attention while developing technically qualified manpower.

He said there was a need for strengthening national agricultural research and education infrastructure through active interface with the industry.

Pawar expressed optimism that the projected national economy growth of 8.6% in 2010-11 would be led by rebound in the farm sector.

"The estimated growth if realised will be the fastest since 2008," Pawar opined.

On the farm sector growth of 5.6% in 2010-11 as per data by Central Statistical Organisation, Pawar said, "Food grains and oil seeds are expected to grow by 6.5% and 11.9%, respectively, over the previous year."

"Similar increased production has been projected for cotton, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables," he added.

On the issues that require immediate attention to address the emerging needs of the agriculture sector, Pawar said global schools, demand-driven curricula, student centred and problem solving approach in curriculum delivery are required.

He added effective co-ordination of multi-commodity and multi-disciplinary research in entire production to consumption chain of agricultural commodities and capacity building through training at the national and international level were required.