Bio Input Producers Assn inks two MoUs with MANAGE and PJTSAU

Hyderabad, Feb 12 (UNI) Bio Agri Input Producers Association (BIPA), a Hyderabad-based not-for-profit industry body working towards the use of biological technology for sustainable Agri in India and across the globe signed two

sseparate MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings). One is with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) and the other one is with Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU). These were signed at a special function held here on Saturday evening. MANAGE is an autonomous Institute by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. PJTSAU is a state agriculture university. The MoU with MANAGE was signed and exchanged between Dr KRK Reddy, President of Bio Agri Input Producers Association, and Dr P Chandra Shekara Director General MANAGE. The second MoU with PJTSAU was signed by Dr KRK Reddy, President, on behalf of BIPA and Dr. S. Sudheer Kumar, Registrar on behalf of PJTSAU and exchanged by Dr KRK Reddy and Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of PJTSAU. The two MoUs are to carry out bio-efficacy trials and other studies required for regulatory purposes as well as collaborate research, extension. These will be mutually beneficial for students, faculty for exchange, collaboration, and utilization of in-house R&D for mutual benefit. The two MoUs are the first such things in India in the Bio Agri Input Industry. Speaking on the occasion Dr KRK Reddy said the objective of BIPA is to integrate Indian Industry and give it, it’s due recognition. The action points after these MoUs will be an extension, collaboration, research and trials. Speaking on the occasion Dr Chandra Shekara said MANAGE is appointed by the Ministry as the nodal agency to promote Natural Farming. Though there are no package practices readily available, we will look at community validated practices, screen

and validate them. And mobilize scientific evidence and prepare the ground for natural farming to grow. He highlighted various opportunities which BIPA can encash from MANAGE such as talent pool of Agri-Business Management Alumni, Agri Trained Youth, Micro enterprises, trained input dealers and Agri StartUps. All these platforms and talent pool are open to BIPA, he said. Dr Praveen Rao said it was the first-time PJTSAU signed an MoU with an industrial body. We have always partnered with Institutions and Industries. No individual can address the challenges faced by the industry. It has to be with collaboration and partnership. Let us come together and address the common challenges of the industry of which we all are a part. The West, 80 years after Organic Farming still not able to cross significant areas. The general perception is that if you follow organic farming, you will get reduced yield. We need to address these and many issues. We need to prepare scientific evidence for these and many issues, he said. Let us jointly promote student-led research, knowledge-enhancing conferences, and build a strong knowledge, he said. The MoUs are a very important development both for the industry as well as for all the stakeholders to carry out bio-efficacy trials and other studies required for regulatory purposes. Biological efficacy is a method or a process to find out the effectiveness of specified material, input, and process at affecting biological organisms Collaboration between industry and academia is key to catalyze innovation and growth in technology, added Dr Venkatesh Devanor, Secretary of BIPA.