ICAR, Bayer ink MoU to develop resource-efficient, climate-resilient solutions for crops

Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Bayer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop resource-efficient, climate-resilient solutions for crops, varieties, crop protection, weed, and mechanisation.

The collaboration will focus on working together on agriculture sustainability programme efforts by providing quality agri-inputs and advisory services to farmers in a systems approach, according to a press release. The partnership aims to promote resource-efficient agronomic practices in crops, empower smallholder farmers with agronomic advisory, and develop carbon credit markets. The collaboration also aims to develop precision agriculture practices through joint research.

Krishi Vigyan Kendras will strengthen outreach to a wider farmer base by leveraging technological know-how and expertise through technology transfer and capacity-building programs. The institutional partnership will work to promote efficient agronomic practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) in paddy cultivation.

Bayer will support the KVK agri-entrepreneurs through awareness and education programs, input availability, and mechanisation solutions in the defined clusters.

ICAR and Bayer will work towards empowering smallholder farmers in achieving greater yields, adopting water-efficient practices, and providing them with an opportunity to earn additional incentives through better market linkages.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary DARE and Director General ICAR praised private partners' collaboration in research and extension for resource-efficient technology development and dissemination. KVKs will play a crucial role in assessing and promoting these technologies in various agro-ecologies, with specific work plans developed in identified core areas.

Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head for Bayer's Crop Science Business in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, emphasised the importance of food and nutritional security for national security. He spoke on the need for a future-ready, digitally enabled, and sustainable ecosystem tailored to farmers' needs. The collaboration focuses on developing regenerative agricultural models, particularly in rice and horticulture production, to ensure economic success.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Udham Singh Gautam, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, and Wiebusch for their respective organisations. The outcomes of ongoing collaboration between ICAR institutes in Horticulture and Bayer on capacity building and extension activities include safe crop protection inputs and precision agriculture tools like drones.