Pinpointing inadequate research as the main reason behind low wheat and rice productivity in India, global seeds major Monsanto has earmarked a grant of $10 million (about Rs 46 crore) for promoting research on the two staple foodgrains.

The company has provided a grant of $10 million to create the Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Programme research fellowships that will encourage young scientists and university students to develop new technologies for wheat and rice, Monsanto Director-Sustainable Development, Ms Jyotsna Bhatnagar, told PTI.

The scholarship programme has been named after Norman Borlaug — the father of the Green Revolution — and famous rice scientist Hank Beachell.

“In rice, India’s productivity is 50 per cent of China and the US and 33 per cent of Egypt and similarly, in wheat, India’s productivity, though at par with US, is 55 per cent of China and 40 per cent of Egypt,” Ms Bhatnagar added.

There exists a tremendous potential for India to enhance its productivity and address the growing food needs, she added.

The MBBISP programme aims to develop highly educated rice and wheat plant breeders who can serve as future agriculture leaders.

Mr Prakash Gangashetti, Mr Chetan Arun Patokar, Mr Dharminder Bhatia, Mr Anuj Kumar, Mr H.B. Mahesh and Mr Nitika Sandhu from India have been chosen for the MBBISP research fellowships for five years.

Apart from the six students from India, MBBISP has also chosen six others from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Iran, Syria and Tunisia.

The programme is administered by Texas AgriLife Research, an agency of US-based Texas A&M University.

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