Source: Press Trust of India via Indian Economic Business News
Canada-based International Development Research Centre has chosen India for its research in agriculture and allied areas as the quality of research and science in the country is very high, a top official of the agency said. “The quality of research and science in India is very high and that is why IDRC has chosen the country for its research in agriculture, water and climate change, besides waste management,” IDRC President David M Malone said. IDRC is spending nearly USD 260 million on various countries for research in agriculture and health sector, he said, adding India is being given USD 30 million for research projects, mainly in the agriculture sector, through Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). On the ongoing projects in TNAU, Malone said IDRC is funding two projects: one on ‘enhancing preservation of fruits in South India, under Canadian International Food Security Research Funds programme, which involves University of Guelph, Canada, TNAU and International Technology Institute, Sri Lanka and an NGO, MYRADA, with an outlay of Rs 4.99 crore. Another Rs 1.47 crore project is on ‘revalorising small millets: enhancing the food and nutritional security of women and children in rain-fed regions of South Asia using underutilised species, he said.