FM, Montek to address Baramati Initiative

India's policy heavyweights Union finance minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, as well as icons from India's corporate and finance world, will descend on Baramati on March 10 to address the sixth annual session of the Baramati Initiative "" an endeavour to acclerate the economic uplift of the country's rural masses, with technology as the centre-stage.

The two-day annual conference, promoted by Vidya Pratishthan "" an educational trust set up by Union minister for agriculture Sharad Pawar, is the melting pot of ideas that seek to formalise programmes for socio-economic development of rural India, especially the farming community. The conference theme for this year: ICT and Development.

Speaking on the initiative, Sharad Kulkarni, chairman "" governing council, Vidya Pratishthan's Institute of Technology (VIIT), said, "The Baramati Initiative brings together experts and practitioners from diverse backgrounds for sharing of learning and experiences on ICT (information and communication technologies) and development. This year, the conference on e-agriculture aims to harness the potential of ICT to enhance dissemination of vital information on agriculture to the rural population."

While Ahluwalia will be the chief guest at the inaugural session, Chidambaram and Pawar will preside over the plenary session on 'The Future of E-Agriculture', he said.

The conference, which will focus on the use of e-agriculture (ICT in agriculture), will aim to explore avenues that will enable the government, NGOs, development agencies, corporates and financial institutions to work towards successfully promoting e-agriculture for the uplift of the rural economy.

Rana Kapoor, managing director & CEO, Yes Bank, who has lent support to the upcoming conference, said, "This initiative is in line with our knowledge-driven approach to banking. The bank has formed a specialised 'development and knowledge banking division' focusing on key sunrise growth sectors with predominant focus on food and agriculture, and rural banking."

In addition to the 100-odd Indian experts from diverse fields, global experts from the Netherlands, Venezuela, Phillipines, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation will address the conference, Kulkarni said.