Karnataka   

“Set up Bio-Technology Regulatory Authority”

Bangalore: Chairman of the National Commission on Farmers M.S. Swaminathan, reiterated his proposal to the Central government for setting up the National Bio-Technology Regulatory Authority in view of the flow of investment in bio-technology related sectors in the country.

Delivering the key note address at a function organised by the Coffee Board here for the release of the new Arabica coffee plant variety Chandragiri, Prof. Swaminathan said that there were many bio-technology related issues that needed to be tackled and the setting up of a regulatory authority was one solution.

Regretting that even after 60 years of independence the country did not have a policy on farmers, he said what was needed was a paradigm shift from a commodity approach to that of a farmers approach. He said 33 districts had faced serious agrarian crisis.

The doyen of green revolution called upon policy makers to re-orient the whole gamut of agri-related issues vis-À-vis farmers, who have been completely ignored by every segment of the administration and society.

On climate change, he said that the Indian Space Research Organisation needs to start its stations in five other centres for providing information to farmers .

Commending the scientists in the Central Coffee Research Institute of Balehonnur of Chickmaglur district for developing the Chandragiri coffee variety, after 21 years of research, he urged the government to take all measures to not only attract them, but also retain them in research work and laboratories across the country.

C.N.R.Rao, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released the brochure on Chandragiri and distributed seeds to growers.

Prof. Rao also said that scientists doing research on coffee should be treated on par with those working in the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

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“Set up Bio-Technology Regulatory Authority”

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