'Agri varsities need to identify cutting-edge research topics'

Agricultural universities need to identify cutting-edge research topics to students for the purpose of development of science as well as better management practices in agriculture, a senior scientist in the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) today said.
The increasing application of biotechnology and nanotechnoogy in agricultural research, including plant protection, warranted thorough revision of human resource development strategies to meet growing challenges, N K Krishnakumar, Deputy Director General (Horticulture) ICAR, Delhi, said here.
He was addressing a National symposium on 'emerging trends in eco-friendly insect pest management,' organised by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), to commemorate the centenary of entomological research.

Stating that science has to keep ahead of the problems and State Agricultural Universities need to take a major role in promotion of scientific practices among farmers, he said there was the need for increased collaboration among SAUs in south India, for enriching knowledge and skill of agricultural graduates.
"Science-led agriculture is needed to take our country forward," he said.
TNAU Vice-Chancellor K Ramasamy said there was the need for more ICAR institutes in Tamil Nadu, since there were more such institutes in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.