KEY TRENDS

• On the recommendation of two joint Indian–American review teams (in 1955 and 1960), state agricultural universities (SAUs) were established*

• The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) established 261 krishi vigyan kendras (agricultural science centers, or KVKs) at the district level that are responsible for the transfer of new technologies and for training farmers*.

• Public funding to agricultural R&E (research and education) reached US$578 million in 2000*

• Sustainability of food production is threatened by depletion of water resources, soil-health degradation, adverse environmental consequences, failure of extension and input supply and declining investment in agriculture**

• In 1995/96, direct spending by the central government on agriculture and rural development was only about 30 per cent of the total, and the bulk of this was for fertilizer and other subsidies that are non-productive***

• Pursuant to the understanding on cooperation in Agriculture reflected in the Joint Statement of US President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh on July 18, 2005 during the visit of Dr. Man Mohan Singh to the USA, the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to work together for a new India – US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture Education, Research, Services and Commercial Linkages, identified the objectives of this Initiative and created the Board of the Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture (AKI) for identifying areas of common interest, modalities of action plan and funding mechanism, etc*#

• Underinvestment in developing country agriculture—including in local and regional market infrastructure, information and services—has weakened the small-scale farm sector in many countries#

* Pardey, Philip G., Alston, Julian M. and Piggott, Roley R. (ed.) Agricultural R&D in the Developing World: Too Little, Too Late?, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

** Report of the Working Group on Agriculture Research and Education for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), Planning Commission, Government of India

*** Linkages between Government Spending, Growth, and Poverty in Rural India by Shenggen Fan, Peter Hazell and Sukhadeo Thorat (1999), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/abstract/110/rr110.pdf

*# Work Plan on India-US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture, dare.nic.in/bil_Usa/Work%20Plan-KIA.doc

# April, 2008 Report of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development

OVERVIEW 

Every rupee spent on agricultural R and D brings back more than thirteen rupees in gains. This is higher than stock market returns even in good times. And yet, every rupee well spent on agricultural research directly impacts poverty. According to farm economists Fan, Hazell and Thorat, every one million rupees spent on R and D pulls at least 85 people out of poverty. It is obvious that R and D play a big role in a country’s progress by converting liabilities into assets. The activities covered under rural R and D range from developing superior seeds and improved soil health to adaptive technologies and efficient farming methods.

The big picture is that India’s agricultural research has grown tremendously since the sixties but it still lacks adequate linkages with the farmers’ requirements. The scientists mostly work on specific projects that do not connect with government policies for improving livelihoods and with rural India’s vital concerns like hunger and poverty. The R and D in the farm sector also needs to address newer challenges like the climate change, falling nutritional security, soil degradation, new pests and diseases, and falling profitability. 

India has one of the world’s most extensive Agricultural research networks but its total expenditure on R and D is a mere 0.31 per cent of GDP as compared to between 2 and 4 per cent by developed countries. Of late its well-known institutions have been facing shortage of funds and highly qualified manpower. In 2005-06, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) reported a shortfall of about 2000 scientists and equal number of technical, administrative and support staff. India’s agricultural research has very little tangible progress to show in the past two decades. It has also come under criticism for not focusing its priorities on specific requirements of small farmers and the productivity achieved in lab conditions falls short in field trials. Obviously, there is a strong case for rethinking our agricultural research policy.