Public-Private Partnership in agriculture to improve food security and farmer livelihoods
(L-R): Padma Shri Dr EA Siddiq, Dr CD Mayee, Dr Peter Carberry, Dr Sanjeev Jha, Dr Ventakteswarlu and Dr Rajvir Rathi at the meeting. Photo: S Punna, ICRISAT
The significance of public-private partnership in increasing agricultural productivity and doubling farmers’ income was emphasized at a round table meeting of key stakeholders held at ICRISAT.
“An important mechanism to harness scientific expertise, skills, resources and technological innovations in the agricultural production system, emphasis needs to be put on Public Private Partnership (PPP) for both upstream and downstream directions of the agriculture value chain,” said Dr CD Mayee, President, South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC).
Dr Peter Carberry, Director General (Acting), ICRISAT, referred to PPP as ‘a real area of opportunity’, to help, “achieve twin goals of farmers’ profitability and agricultural sustainability with collaboration – from companies to communities – to improve input efficiency and crop productivity”.
Dr Peter Carberry greeting Dr EA Siddiq at the meeting while (L-R) Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Founder, SABC; Dr Govind Gujar, SABC; Dr Kiran Sharma; and Dr CD Mayee, President, SABC look on. Photo: S Punna, ICRISAT
Indian industry representative Dr Paresh Verma appealed to the Indian Government to draft a conducive policy framework for a regulatory environment for agriculture research, technology and innovation.
Dr Sanjeev Jha from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) proposed an institutional mechanism, guidelines and a clear national policy statement on PPP in agriculture for an attractive environment, collaborative R&D and extension.
The meeting was organized at ICRISAT on 11 June 2018, in partnership with SABC and Bayer Crop Sciences. About 50 stakeholders – farmers, members of farmer organizations, NGOs, ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, industry associations, and the private sector – attended the meeting.
