The Hindu Business Line : Farmers' commission moots biosecurity fund

In the backdrop of recent outbreak of H5N1 strain of avian flu, the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) has sought setting up of a National Agricultural Biosecurity Fund of Rs 1,000 crore, which would be used for establishing an Offshore Genetic Screening Centre (OGSC) for animals.

The fund would also be utilised for strengthening infrastructure for sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and upgrading facilities for plant, animal and fish quarantine.

ROAD MAP

To be set up with an initial contribution by the Union Government with additional funding from international donors and private sector companies, the OGSC would work towards identifying genes for resistance to serious disease epidemics caused due to invasive alien species such as the H5N1 strain of avian flu in poultry, the Commission has said in the fourth report submitted to the Union Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar. "Fortunately, there are unmanned islands in Lakshadweep, which can be developed as OGSCs," it said.

Agri biosecurity system

Moreover, the Commission has called for a National Agricultural Biosecurity System comprising National Agricultural Biosecurity Council (NABC), National Centre on Agricultural Biosecurity (NCAB) and National Agricultural Biosecurity Network (NABN).

NABC, chaired by the Union Minister for Agriculture, would serve as the apex policy making and coordinating body. NCAB, which would serve as the NABC secretariat, would have four wings dealing with crops, farm animals, living aquatic resources and agriculturally important micro-organisms.

Other functions

It would also deal with analysis, aversion and management of risks apart from setting up an early warning system.

NABN would facilitate scientific partnerships among public and private institutions engaged in bio-monitoring, biosafety, quarantine and other bio-security programmes.

Calls for national policy

The final report, based on inputs from various stakeholders, would be presented on October 13, 2006, when the term of NCF ends. It also called for taking steps to ensure that a national policy for farmers could be launched on August 15, 2007. The Commission has requested the NDC Committee, the Agriculture Coordination Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, Consultative Committee and other appropriate bodies.

In another gathering organised here on Thursday by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Chairperson, NCF, reiterated that the Government should frame a national policy for farmers before the 60th anniversary of independence.

More Stories on : Bio-tech & Genetics | Security

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Agriculture needs a paradigm shift

Rubber up further on scarce arrivals

Kothari Sugars transfers chemical biz to Primetra

CCL Products Q4 sales up 46 pc

Farmers' commission moots biosecurity fund

Edible oils rule weak

Coco-biodiesel scores better than diesel

Chicken prices gain as consumption rises

Counselling for `distressed farmers'