Towards greater targets

THE Indian Council of AgriculturalResearch (ICAR) based in New Delhi, issetting its sights higher. Wanting toincrease the country's present share ofthe global agricultural trade from 0.5per cent to a more respectable 2 percent, it has sought the participation ofthe private sector as its partner.

The director general of ICAR, R SParoda, said on September 27, that theresearch establishment was open to private sector participation as "able players in the public or privawtors will have to be partners in canmenting each others' efforts at proting market-oriented agriculture.private sectors could link withcouncil in terms of contractcontract service, considtancy, and ing among others.

Meanwhile, the council has takenmany a new initiative to meet the futurechallenges including the setting up openagricultural research informationSystem (ARIS), launching of a agricultural technology project, ellishment of national research cemand the DNA finger-printing of thevailing genetic resources. India Anhas the distinction of being the firstcountry in the world to develop varieties of crops like cotton, castorpearlmillet.