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7.8 billion WB aid for improving agricultural technology

The World Bank today announced that it would provide $ 196.8 million (Rs 7.80 billion) for the improvement of agricultural technology in India.

The project is expected to benefit poor farmers by improving relevant and practical agricultural technologies to help increase productivity and efficiency.

Researchers, administrators, extension staff and non-governmental organisations will also benefit by improving management practices, building skills and bridging gaps in research.

The project will help strengthen partnerships between the public and private sector and demonstrate the benefits of a demand-driven delivery and feedback system for technology dissemination, with greater accountability to farmers.

''With more than 80 per cent of India's poor living in rural areas, boosting agricultural growth is critical to raising rural incomes and living standards,'' said Ashik Seth, task team leader and principal agriculturist in World Bank's South Asia rural development sector unit.

The project will fund the first five-year time-slice of a longer term programme to revitalise national systems for technology generation, assessment and dissemination so that India can stay at the scientific forefront and spur productivity, he said.

UNI

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