Research institute in Bihar soon for studying the impact of environmental changes on agriculture.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has aired his intentions to start a research institute in Bihar for studying the impact of environmental changes on agriculture.

Back in his hometown Baramati in Pune district, a similar project, the National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been facing procedural delays in setting up the necessary infrastructure.

The idea was mooted in 2008 and the institute, the first of its kind in the country, was granted 100 acres by the state. The required funds started rolling in only recently and work is expected to pick up soon.

Maharashtra Agriculture Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh said work was picking up after fund allotment. “There was some delay. Now there have been some appointments,” he said.

The Union cabinet had approved the institute and Rs 73.5 crore was set aside for it last year. However, it was only this year that an allocation of Rs 8 crore was made. The institute will address issues like drought, temperature extremes, flood, salinity, mineral toxicity and nutritive deficiency which threatens agriculture production.

At present, the institute operates from Pune’s Baramati Krishi Vigyan Kendra and 15 employees have been appointed under director Dr K P R Vittal. “The process has been slow. We received part funds last year and have put the CPWD on it,” said Vittal. The institute will have to address the issue of getting good research scientists. “There are few scientists specialising in this area,” said Vittal.