Funds allocated: approximately US$ 46 million

This Component aims at bringing in the organizational changes in the NARS so that it becomes a dynamic innovation system capable of responding to the present as well as the future needs of Indian agriculture research and development. The role of the ICAR as the leader of the NARS will be as the catalyzing agent of the change with the agricultural universities being the main partners in change where all stakeholders are involved. Emphases are on the following:

• Information, communication and dissemination systems which support interactions and dialogue among the stakeholders.

•  Learning and capacity building (L&CB).

• Business planning and development for agricultural technologies and knowledge.

• Policy analysis including that for gender concerns, visioning and market intelligence analysis for supporting the policy makers on one hand and the farmer on the other.

• Remodeling the financial and procurement systems of the ICAR and SAUs which suit an innovation system.

The whole Component 1 will be supported as sponsored projects because the component needs to address identified problems for identified stakeholders i.e., the ICAR and the agricultural universities

COMPONENT 2: Research on Production to Consumption Systems

Funds allocated: approximately US $ 75 million

A Production to Consumption System (PCS) (a “value chain” system in popular parlance) is a system which involves the entire set of actors, materials, activities, technologies, services, and institutions involved from the stage of supply of inputs to harvesting of a particular commodity and transforming it into a usable product, and storing /marketing the final product. Simply put it is a “field-to-plate” system. Rural income augmentation and employment generation through post harvest processing and value addition, building of rural agro-industries, export promotion and import substitution and exploiting the market will receive thrust. Research for technology development and adoption needed for each link within a PCS will be addressed by each selected consortium.

COMPONENT 3:  Research on Sustainable Rural Livelihood Security

Funds allocated: approximately US $ 73 million

In the Component 3 emphasis is on research, on farm, for improving and developing the most suitable farming systems and allied off-farm activities, in the less favorable environments , regions and groups so that the livelihood of the rural poor improves through assured food, nutrition, employment  and income. The sustainability of socio-economic and natural resources has to be ensured. Particular attention will be given to the rainfed, hill and mountain, and, coastal and island eco-regions.  Partnerships will be built among all the stakeholders, be the farm men and women, the farm labourer, the input supplier, the rural industry entrepreneur or the researcher, who will share their resources and knowledge and own the changes brought in. Those consortia which propose to work for the rural areas in the 150 districts identified by the Planning Commission for support (please see the following table) under the “Work for Food” programme will be funded under this Component.

COMPONENT 4: Basic and Strategic Research in the Frontier Areas                 of Agricultural Sciences

Funds allocated approximately US $ 56 million

Sustained flow of knowledge and innovations is essential to keep the technology development process responsive to the ever-changing needs of agriculture. Investments must be made in basic and strategic research in the frontier areas of agricultural sciences to sustain this flow especially when knowledge has become a global commodity. The Component 4 aims at making such investments in those frontier science areas of agricultural research that are strategically important for Indian agriculture. An indicative list of thrust areas have been identified through a debate among national and international experts. The broad theme areas are given below.  For the detailed list of thrust areas please see the web site http://www.icar.org.in/naipdir/downloads/pip.pdf

·     Genetic Enhancement of Plants

·     Genetic Enhancement of Animals

·     Natural Resource Management and Integrated Pest Management

·     Novel value addition, processing and storage methods for  agricultural products and by products

·     Development of state of the art animal disease surveillance and control systems

About 15 sub-projects, operated in a consortium or a network mode and in special cases, even by individual institutes will be supported. All research organisations, public or private are welcome.