India and Australia on Friday signed an agreement to invest over $4.3 million for the next three years to promote research in horticulture to improve crop productivity.
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) signed an agreement with Horticulture Innovation Australia, at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi in the presence of Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India and K. Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
"Considering the gap between demand and supply for crops, it is of paramount importance to stimulate an enabling environment for research and development in both the regions," a statement said.
The focus of the joint call is to undertake horticultural research in order to develop and deploy modern tools of plant biotechnology to improve crop productivity.
"This strategic partnership will undoubtedly promote the development of cost effective practices for crop harvesting. Creativity and innovative practices in an agrarian economy like India will have far reaching impact on its socio-economic progress," said Renu Swarup, managing director director, BIRAC.
--IANS
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