Agricultural Transformation through Public-Private Partnership: An Interface

Abstract

In recognition of the increasing importance of the role and potentials of the Public-Private Partnerships in achieving higher productivity and efficiency in different facets of Indian Agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research organized the first ICAR-Industry Meet: Agricultural Transformation through Public-Private Partnership at New Delhi during 19-20 January 2006. The first Interface of its kind was designed to address potentials in different areas and to bring out strengths of the partnerships, and also learn from the previous experiences. Varied aspects such as Seeds and horticultural planting materials, Agricultural biotechnology, Biofertilizers, Agriculturally important microorganisms, Animal vaccines, Poultry, Dairy, Fisheries, Textiles, Food processing, Farm implements and machinery, Post-harvest processing, Financing and Capacity-building were covered by distinguished speakers from both private and public sectors. There were detailed discussions on these partnerships that are playing greater roles in On-farm testing of new technologies, Seed quality improvement, One window for commercialization of technologies, Soil testing laboratories, Value-chain in different aspects, Water weedicides, Smaller machinery and appropriate technologies, Custom-hiring, Mobile feed dryers, Use of fertilizers and micronutrients, Extension systems and Mobility of researchers between public and private sectors, etc. The Meet also brought out action points for carrying the process forward, with the existing mechanisms in some cases, and with the new ones to be put in place in others, emphasizing objectivity and flexibility in building these partnerships. The present publication is an outcome of the Interface, indicating various dimensions of the partnerships, as also immense possibilities in the areas. We are grateful to Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary, DARE, and Director General, ICAR, for giving us the opportunity for organizing the Meet and also for editing this volume. We would like to thank the speakers for their presentations, and the participants for making the event a unique one. We hope that this publication would not only be a document of the Interface, but would lead to further actions for ‘Partnerships for greater Prosperity in Agriculture’ and a ‘Win-Win’ situation for all partners.