Plan panel for ICAR revamp

As Part of the 11th Plan strategy, the Planning Commission will suggest an immediate restructuring of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research the apex body responsible for research and training in the field of agriculture.

As Part of the 11th Plan strategy, the Planning Commission will suggest an immediate restructuring of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research ICAR, the apex body responsible for research and training in the field of agriculture. The proposal will formally be considered in the Planning Commission meeting on agriculture, to be chaired by the Prime Minister early next week.

The proposal, aimed at filling the productivity gap between different regions and of different crops, comes in wake of the government efforts to take the overall agricultural growth rate to 4.1 per cent in the 11th Plan period.

The restructuring exercise being proposed is aimed at correcting the focus of the ICAR, which, according to the Plan panel, has veered towards 8220;inconsequential cosmetic modifications8221; instead of strategic research. The proposed restructuring is aimed at nurturing region-specific problem-solving research by the agricultural research network under the ICAR.

The restructuring proposes an inter-disciplinary and project-based funding for the identified problem areas across the country. This will include establishment of an independent expert body to set priorities for strategic research under the ICAR. The priorities will be based on overall and region-specific constraints and potential. The Plan panel is also proposing the creation of a national fund for agricultural research that will fund research in the priority sectors identified by the expert body. Research under this fund will be monitored by high-level expert committees at the Centre as well as in the state.

This move, however, has to be accompanied by a substantial jump in funding for agricultural research in the country. The Planning Commission suggests that the Central Government double its funding if the proposed restructuring is followed.

The Plan panel is also of the view that the ICAR and state agricultural universities should be made more accountable towards developing region-specific technology for enhancing agricultural productivity. It proposes that the incentivised support to these universities be expanded to revitalise research. They will also be required to adequately focus on agricultural entrepreneurship in their curriculum.