Lok Sabha Question No. 5272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: MoU on Crop Science
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, SATYA PAL SINGH, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5272 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/04/2017

## MoU on Crop Science

5272:   SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: DR. SATYAPAL SINGH: SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has achieved the aims and objectives of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of UK in crop science;
- (b) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the time by  which  such  aims  and  objectives  are  likely  to  be  achieved  by  the Government;
- (c) whether Government proposes to sign such MoUs with other countries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, country-wise; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this direction?

## ANSWER

- (a)&(b) Yes Madam, the Memorandum of Understanding for establishing a joint IndiaUK collaborative centre in crop-science has been signed. Aims and objectives of the centre are:-
1. Establishment of a Research Centre located in India.
2. Establishment of a joint fellowship programme in plant sciences to facilitate the exchange of PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers between the partnering UK and Indian institutions.
3. Integration  with  continuing  DBT-UK  activities,  such  as  the  DBT-Cambridge Lectureships and the UK-India Virtual Joint Centres in Agricultural Nitrogen.
4. Capacity building, leadership development and developing robust farmer outreach components.

The aim of the MoU is to develop a long term partnership between India and UK in Plant Sciences. Steps have been initiated and joint activities have commenced which are detailed below:-

- Joint Faculty Programme: The Department of Biotechnology in partnership with University of Cambridge, UK  have  initiated research-oriented lectureship programme at Cambridge University and a partner institute in India. The duration of lectureship is for a fixed term of five year of which three year of this will be in India and two year will be in University of Cambridge. Five applicants have been selected and are working under the joint unestablished post of Lectureship.
- Four India-UK  Virtual Joint Centres in Agricultural Nitrogen have been established  which  will  eventually  integrate  into  the  activities  of  Joint  Plant Science Research Centre.
- Workshop  Women  Agriculture  Scientists  in  Cambridge:  This  workshop  was  a direct  result  of  the  joint  UK-India  collaboration  programme  in  crop  science. Twenty  five  scientists  in  Agriculture  were  sent  to  Cambridge  for  a  five  day leadership training programme during 4 th -10 th September 2016.
- (c)(d)&(e)    The  Department  of  Biotechnology  is  looking  to  expand  global  partnership  and will be open to signing of such MoU with other countries. Crop science is top priority of the country and negotiations are continuing with countries such as Australia, EU for establishing programmes in Agriculture and Plant Science.