Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Dutch funds for biotech development

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM MAY 3. The Andhra Pradesh-Netherlands (APNL) Biotechnology Programme has been sanctioned Rs.43.5 crores by the Netherlands Government for development of biotechnology in the State.

Disclosing this to reporters here on Saturday, the chairman of biotechnology programme committee of APNL and former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, M.V. Rao, said that the programme was in its second phase. It was first introduced in 1993 and in that phase Rs.16.5 crores was spent.

``Now in the second phase, Rs. 43 lakhs has been sanctioned to Andhra University. Of this, Rs.26 lakhs is earmarked for developing a bio-pesticide while Rs.17 lakhs is being spent on the first refresher course on plant biotechnology programme for training manpower'', he said.

In the first phase, several biotechnological interventions were taken up successfully in the backward districts of Mahaboobnagar and Nalgonda. Pulses like redgram, oilseeds and custard apples were developed, he said, and clarified that the technology was not being thrust on the farmers. The programme in the second phase began in April last year and would continue for five years during which period it was being extended to more areas, he revealed. The Netherlands began helping other countries sometime ago and the programme in India was its fourth, he said.

Noting that biotechnology had applications in several fields and raised hopes for the future, he said India could ill-afford to lag in technology development.

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