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Rs 9 billion agri-tech project launched

Minister of State for Agriculture Som Pal today dedicated the Rs 9 billion National Agricultural Technology Project to the Indian farmers with a firm belief that the it would pave the way for doubling of the farm production by the year 2010.

The project, jointly taken up by the Union government's department of agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research with a $ 97 million loan from the World Bank and matching funds from the government, aims at stepping up farm productivity and production from less endowed areas.

Pal told an official function that the NATP would reorient the entire farm research and extension systems in the country to address the farmers' site-specific needs and requirements. Basically a technology development and farm extension scheme, it would also harness all institutional facilities for stepping up farm production in all available farming areas.

The minister said the overall objective of the NATP was to orient and revitalise agro-ecosystems research and extension set-ups to raise their efficiency. It would promote multi-disciplinary, location-specific and participatory modes of operation, with major emphasis on responding to the needs of farmers, producers and entrepreneurs. The needs of smaller farmers and farm women would be given special attention, he added.

UNI