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Working Group for the formulation of Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007).

Agriculture Research and Education

Dated 15th November 2000

Composition:

Terms and Reference:

1. To make critical review of research achievement and technology development in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy development fisheries and fodder and impact of education during the IX Plan as per the goals objectives set.
2. To suggest proposals for formulation and implementation of Tenth Plan with regard to ongoing activities, their modification and new activities.
3. To recommend strategy and approach on research, education and training for agricultural development with reference to target groups, specific problem areas, Hills tribal areas. NE Region, problem soils, etc. and infrastructural development.
4. For Agriculture Research and Education, the country has a strong National .Agriculture Research system. Today there is a network of Research Institutes, National Research Centres, Project Directorates, State Agriculture Universities, Central Agriculture University and large number of AD India Coordinated Research Projects involving more than 24.000 Agriculture Scientists, teachers and technicians. The Working Group will critically review the existing staff strength and its efficient utilization. Simultaneously, necessity for creation of new staff should also be reviewed. These steps are necessary to check up the ever-increasing Plan and non-Plan expenditure of the ICAR. Committee may also try to find out if any kind of duplication of efforts and funds is taking place, even though unintentionally since the ICAR have a very vast network spread over the country.
5. Critically review the performance of NATP in stimulating the research activities and development of research infrastructure at different Institutes Centres. The performance and impact of Agriculture Technology Management Agencies (ATXIA) on technology transfer may also be reviewed.
6. Critically examine the impact of technologies developed in improving the productivity of rainfed lands and suggest the new research areas
7. Various research organizations are carrying out research on genetic
   engineering for improving the productivity, quality, disease resistance etc. of the crops. The working group may suggest the ways and means for
   coordinating them for better commercial output.
8. To suggest measures for effective coordination in me field of agriculture research in the State sector as well as in other Central organizations departments with the ICAR system.
9. The Working Group may critically review the status of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Research and suggest appropriate measures and policy initiatives in the field of Transgenics.
10. To examine the sums of technology for cultivation, production and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants produce in the country.
11. Working Group may examine the technology advancement to design for fabrication of trawlers for fishing under different fathoms of Indian waters.
12. To review the development of low cost technologies for improvement of existing indigenous technologies for organised development of milk and meat processing industry with emphasis on quality control for export.

The Chairman of the Working Group may set up sub-groups task forces, if necessary for undertaking in-depth studies and formulation of Plan proposals. The sub-Groups will furnish their reports to the Working Group.

The Working Group may co-opt non-official experts representatives of other agencies if required

The expenditure of the members on TA DA in connection with the meeting of the Working Group will be borne by the parent-department Ministry organization. The expenditure, if any. in respect of non-official members will be borne by Planning Commission as per rules and regulations of TADA applicable to Grade I officers of Government of India.

The Working Group will submit its final report to the Planning Commission by 31^st March 2001.