IARI needs one-time grant of Rs 500 cr to boost infrastructure

IARI, which played a major role in Green Revolution, is plagued by poor infrastructure and needs at least Rs 500 crore one-time grant to strengthen the country's premier agri-research body, says a top official.
Advanced infrastructure is required for achieving second Green Revolution in the eastern region, developing high- yielding pulses and oilseeds to cut dependence on imports and for reducing the impact of climate change on the farm sector, IARI's new director Trilochan Mohapatra said.
He said there is also a need to set up new discovery centre for advanced research to see if latest technologies like sensors, nano science, drones, unmanned vehicles can be combined and put in use for improving agriculture growth.

"All these focused areas require infrastructure support. IARI's infrastructure is very old. It is more than 100 years old institute. You cannot think of world-class science with primitive infrastructure," Mohapatra told PTI.
There are two ways to mobilise funds, he said, and added, "One is request the government to provide one-time grant of at least Rs 500 crore. The other is to invite industry to invest on our research."
Indian Agricultural Research Institute -- which has 440 scientists, 2,200 staff and several regional centres -- gets an annual plan budget of about Rs 22 crore, while huge funds as part of non-plan budget go to salary and other things.

Mohapatra, who took charge of IARI last week, said: "If you spend so much on non-plan and don't provide contingency budget, then huge IARI system is not effectively utilised."

On mobilising funds from private sector, he said: "This part needs to be looked at critically. If industry wants to solve a particular problem and for which we are able to provide support, contract research can be in place."
Some research in this mode is on and there is a need to accelerate it so that more funds come in from private partners, he said.
Aiming to take IARI research work to the world-class level, Mohapatra listed out his plans to ensure the institute contributes for the upliftment of farmers and to the country's economic growth.

"IARI has done tremendously well so far. But given the scenario in the country and outside, this institute has to critically analyse its role and see how best it can contribute the national building to upliftment of farmers conditions and also remain globally competitive," he said.
Focus would be on strengthening the quality of basic and strategic research to the world-class level, developing varieties and product technology to improve yields of some crops like pulses and oilseeds and reducing impact of climate change on agriculture sector, he added.