Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) signed an agreement today with the Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA)
Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) signed an agreement today with the Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA) for agricultural development in South Asian countries by jointly mobilising resources and technologies. The MoU was signed in New Delhi between Chairman of ICFA, Dr. MJ Khan and Director General of BISA, Dr. H S Gupta (Seen in Pic from L to R: Dr MJ Khan, Chairman ICFA, Dr. RB Singh, Chancellor CAU, Dr M Moni, Director- SU Institute of Agriculture Informatics, Mr. Ramesh Deshpande, Convener – India Agriculture Group, Washington DC and Dr HS Gupta, DG BISA)
ICFA and BISA have enormous opportunity for cooperation, complementation and synergy as the two organizations endeavor towards the service of farmers and humanity. There arecommonalities in their respective mandates, especially in the field of research aimed at doubling food production, ICT, promoting technology transfer, research outputs targeted to small and marginal farmers across the region, encouraging investment in Agricultural Research, organizing seminars, conferences and entrepreneurships development, said DG,BISA, Dr. HS Gupta. ICFA Chairman, Dr. MJ Khan said that signing of the MoU will help ICFA in projects and in mobilising technological support to its member organisations.
Considering this factor, the two important bodies agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative ventures. BISA and ICFA have mutually agreed upon working jointly in the fields of rural development, agriculture and food, implementing programmes on food security, environmental sustainability and accelerating the growth in farm productivity and agri-business. Both the organizations will together pursue the development of common programmes which shall enable them to effectively and efficiently utilize the available resources for concrete actions to achieve the objectives of their respective mandates. They will endeavour to provide assistance to farmers and agri-entrepreneurs by addressing their technology, marketing and financing related issues. The MoU signed will remain in effect for three years after signature by both the organizations. Besides, both the organizations may later enter into supplementary agreements as the need arises in future.
About Borlaug Institute of South Asia
The Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) is a non-profit international research institute dedicated to food, nutrition and livelihood security as well as environmental rehabilitation in South Asia, which is home to more than 300 million undernourished people. BISA is a collaborative effort involving the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). The objective of BISA is to harness the latest technology in agriculture to improve farm productivity and sustainably meet the demands of the future. BISA is more than an institute. It is a commitment to the people of South Asia, particularly to the farmers, and a concerted effort to catalyze a second Green Revolution.
Established on October 5, 2011 with R&D centers in the districts of Ludhiana (Punjab), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Samastipur (Bihar), BISA is an institute built on the legacy of Dr Norman E Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, the winner of Nobel Peace Prize (1970) and the recipient of the Government of India’s Padma Vibhushan (2006). H S Gupta, Director General is the Chief Executive Authority of the institute.
About Indian Council of Food and Agriculture
ICFA is the apex body in food and agriculture in India, working as the think tank, trade facilitation and global platform for partnerships. ICFA is governed by 30 Member Board, comprised of 21 Chairmen and CEOs of top corporate and 11 other members of international eminence with renowned scientist, Prof. MS Swaminathan and noted Industrialist Mr. Ajay Shriram, past President, CII as its Patrons. Since its launch ICFA has collaborated with several State Governments and top corporate such as SPIC, Adventz, Cargill, PI Ind., DuPont, AMUL, Adani, UPL and Bayer and global institutions like IFPRI and India Agriculture Group, Washington DC. ICFA has also signed MoUs with International Trade Council, Brussels, Belgium, Michigan State University, US, University of Maryland, US, University of Western Australia, Perth, MSSRF Chennai, TERI, New Delhi and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi etc.. ICFA operates through its 25 Working Groups and 15 National Councils and country specific JBCs and State Chapters.
ICFA delegation joined by Dr. MJ Khan, Chairman, Dr. RB Singh, Chairman, Academic Working Group, ICFA, Dr. KL Chadha, Chairman of ICFA Working Group on Horticulture, Dr. M Moni, Chairman of ICFA Working Group on ICT holding discussions with Dr. HS Gupta, DG, BISA and BISA delegations.
