Kerala to utilize IT in farming

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government has appointed a nine-member high level

committee to come up with strategies for implementation of IT in farm sector and

promotion of biotechnology in the state.

National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, president V L Chopra, chairs the

committee. The government hopes to help the crisis stricken agriculture sector

by the judicious application of biotechnology and IT. The Committee will

identify potential areas for IT application for crops widely cultivated in the

state including paddy, coconut, plantation crops and horticultural crops apart

from suggesting areas where government has to intervene for promoting research.

A policy framework has to be drawn up for encouraging private sector

participation in the spread of biotechnology. The committee will draw up a

blueprint based on national laws and international agreements to come into

force. The long term objective also includes setting up an authentic database of

valuable plant and genetic resources.

The term of the committee is three years and it is expected to prepare a

preliminary report within six months. Other members of the expert committee

include Y R Sarma, director of Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode,

Vijay Bhatkar, chairman of Dishnet, S N Puri, vice chancellor of Mahatma Phule

krishi Vishwavidyala, R A Mashelkar, Director General of CSIR, K P P Nambiar,

chairman of Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K).