Bio Agri Input Producers Association (BIPA), a Hyderabad-based not-for-profit industry body working towards the use of biological technology for sustainable Agri in India and across the globe signed two separate MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings). One is with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) and the other one is with The Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU). These were signed in a special function held on Saturday late evening in Hotel Park Hyatt, Hyderabad.
MANAGE is an autonomous Institute by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. PJTSAU is a state agriculture university.
The MoU with MANAGE was signed and exchanged between Dr. KRK Reddy, President of Bio Agri Input Producers Association and Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director, General MANAGE.
The second MoU with PJTSAU was signed by Dr. KRK Reddy, President, on behalf of BIPA and Dr. S. Sudheer Kumar, Registrar on behalf of PJTSAU and exchanged by Dr. KRK Reddy and Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of PJTSAU.
The two MoUs are to carry out bio-efficacy trials and other studies required for regulatory purposes as well as collaborate research, extension. These will be mutually beneficial for students, faculty for exchange, collaboration, and utilization of in-house R&D for mutual benefit.
The two MoUs are the first such things in India in the Bio Agri Input Industry.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. KRK Reddy said the objective of BIPA is to integrate Indian Industry and give it, its due recognition. The action points after these MoUs will be an extension, collaboration, research and trials.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. P. Chandra Shekara said MANAGE is appointed by the Ministry as the nodal agency to promote Natural Farming. Though there are no package practices readily available, we will look at community validated practices, screen and validate them. And mobilize scientific evidence and prepare the ground for natural farming to grow. He highlighted various opportunities which BIPA can encash from MANAGE such as talent pool of Agri-Business Management Alumni, Agri Trained Youth, Micro enterprises, trained input dealers and Agri StartUps. All these platforms and talent pool is open to BIPA, he said.
Dr. Praveen Rao said it was the first-time PJTSAU signed an MoU with an industrial body. We have always partnered with Institutions and Industries.
No individual can address the challenges faced by the industry. It has to be with collaboration and partnership. Let us come together and address common challenges of the industry of which we all are a part.
The West, 80 years after Organic Farming still not able to cross significant area. The general perception is that if you follow organic farming you will get reduced yield. We need to address these and many issues. We need to prepare scientific evidence for these and many issues, he said.
Let us jointly promote student-led research, knowledge-enhancing conferences and build a strong knowledge he told.
The MoUs are very important development both for the industry as well as for all the stakeholders to carry out bio-efficacy trials and other studies required for regulatory purposes. Biological efficacy is a method or a process to find out the effectiveness of specified material, input, and process at affecting biological organisms
Collaboration between industry and academia is key to catalyse innovation and growth in technology, added Dr. Venkatesh Devanur, Secretary of BIPA.
University-industry collaborations can stimulate companies' internal research. University researchers help industrial scientists identify current research that might be beneficial for the development of innovative products, materials and processes, Dr. Venkatesh added.
The MoU also helps both the organizations to have co-operation, collaborate research and exchange of students and helps the society at large. It is a win-win for all, said Dr. KRK Reddy, President of Bio Agri Input Producers Association.
We will collaborate in Research; Policy recommendations in case the industry is facing any hurdles to make agriculture sustainable through Bio-Innovations, said Dr. V. Praveen Rao while addressing on the occasion
PJTSAU envisions itself as a Centre of Excellence, a one-stop destination for agricultural innovation encompassing Education, Research and Extension through all its faculties, to empower farmers and rural communities ensuring evergreen prosperity, to create, foster and present to the world a crop of altruistic agricultural leaders and entrepreneurs who will strive to work for an ecologically and nutritionally balanced future for the State, country and the world at large.
BIPA is a not-for-profit organization working towards the use of biological technology that includes but is not restricted to bio-pesticides, bio-stimulants, biofertilizers, semiochemicals, environmental management for sustainable Agri in India and across the globe.