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Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Oct. 7

HELPING farmers in pursuing market-oriented science-based crops, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) and the Medak district administration have launched an integrated agricultural development project.

The Andhra Pradesh Governor, Mr Sushilkumar Shinde, formally launched the project at the Icrisat here on Friday.

The project partners would provide technical expertise to improve agricultural productivity and income of farmers in the drought-prone district.

"This will be done through improved land and water management practices and cultivation of improved crop varieties," an Icrisat press release said.

Dr William D. Dar, Director-General of Icrisat, said the project provided an opportunity to use the international public goods developed by the institute for the farmers of Medak, where the institute was located.

An important component of the project was effective use of information and communication technology to make information accessible to the farmers.

The project would also see to it that improved post-harvest technologies and market linkages were put in place.

Addressing a gathering after launching the project, Mr Shinde said rapid growth of integrated agriculture was essential not only to achieve self-reliance at national level but also to ensure household food security.

The CRIDA (Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture), ANGRAU (Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University) and State Government institutions would also take part in the project.

Later in the day, a team of experts from Icrisat, national research institutes and the Andhra Pradesh Government discussed the action plan for the project.

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