Two premier research organisations of the Indian subcontinent have joined hands together to accelerate closer collaborative effort for development of agricultural research and education. The work plan for 2006-07 between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP) was signed in Colombo last week. Dr. Mangala Rai, DG, ICAR and Mr. Tissa Warnasooriya, Secretary, Ministry of Agricultural Development signed the work plan.

The major components of this work plan includes short term and long term training of Sri Lankan Scientists, Exchange visits of scientists of each country in various disciplines, deputation of ICAR consultants for providing consultancies to Sri Lanka, collaborative research project and exchange of germplasm between the two countries.

Under the work plan, the two organisations would collaborate on research projects in areas like Hybrid seed production technology in onion, sunflower and chilli; Virus cleaning through tissue culture in Citrus; Development & Testing of potato varieties for humid tropics; Biological control of Coconut mite; Development of storage methods to enhance storability of onions; Identification of appropriate food/agro-processing technologies for adoption at rural level as viable micro enterprises; Development of screening technologies for virus and fungal diseases of Chilli, onion, grain legumes, using biotechnological tools, etc.

During 2006-07, a total number of 62 participants from Sri Lanka will attend short term trainings and 37 participants would attend long term training programmes like M.Sc. and Ph.D. 13 Indian scientists would attend training programmes and study visits in Sri Lanka during the same period. In 2004, 10 Sri Lankan students attended Ph.D. pogrammes in India whereas in 2005 the number increased to 15.