Question : BPD UNITS FOR RESEARCH

(a) whether the Government has set up ten Business Planning and Development (BPD) units under the control of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in the country;

(b) if so, the objectives of these units alongwith the locations where these units have been/proposed to be set up;

(c) the likely benefits of the said units on agricultural production in general and on agricultural research, in particular;

(d) whether there is any proposal to set up such units in the backward States of the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE,FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b) The major objectives of these units are:

To identify the potential technologies ready for commercialization, develop into marketable technologies and upscale them into viable agri-business under public-private partnership framework.

To develop a mechanism for transferring technology from research organizations to public/private sector using R&D backup of the institute to help entrepreneurs in commercializing the technologies

To impart consultancy and training for creating prospective entrepreneurs and value added man power.

To strengthen R&D focus of the organization towards more applied research through backward linkage from industry.

These units are located at IARI, New Delhi; CIFT, Cochin; CIRCOT, Mumbai; IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly; NIRJAFT, Kolkata; CCS, HAU, Hissar; AAU, Anand; BAU, Ranchi; JNKV, Jabalpur & TAU, Coimbatore.

(c) Each Business Planning and Development Unit has identified 5-10 technologies and is at various levels of Commercialization. Business Incubation facilities have been created in all BPD units and so far 75 incubatees are housed and 44 technologies have been Commercialized which will help the farmers to increase agriculture production. It will also encourage the scientists to invent new technologies.

(d) & (e): These zonal units cover all establishment of ICAR in all the States.