5.1           Capacity building for Priority setting in Genetic Engineering Research in Agriculture

5.1.1    A Standing Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology comprising of the Secretaries under M/o Agriculture with Secretary (A&C), as Chair and Secretary (DARE) and Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Secretary, Food Processing Industries, Secretary, Water Resources and Secretary, Biotechnology as Members may be set up to address issues of strategic importance to the agriculture sector including providing direction to focus public good research in areas of national priority.

5.1.2    There should be an agro-climatic region/location-specific R&D agenda for sustainable agriculture with State Agricultural and Veterinary Universities taking the lead role in setting such an agenda. SAUs should develop a strategy for bio-security in their respective areas and get it implemented through the respective State Government.

5.1.3    DAC and ICAR could organize an Orientation Workshop on Priority Setting in Recombinant DNA Research in Crop Plants, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries for Project Leaders engaged in research in the area of Molecular Breeding in Crop Plant, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. Such an orientation workshop could help to develop a code of conduct of “dos” and “donts” in relation to choice of research problems and investment priorities in the public and private sectors.

5.1.4    Capacity building may be carried out at the field level, in areas such as genetic literacy, bio-safety and bio-ethics. Effective involvement of HRD/Trainings and infrastructure would be needed.