Quality of Research and Science in India Very High: IDRC

Coimbatore: 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 told PTI.

IDRC is spending nearly $ 260 million on various countries for research in agriculture and health sector, he said, adding India is being given $ 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.

Canada also provides funds for research in health sector in India, he said.

On pulses, he said Canada, despite being the largest exporter of pulses to India, will be delighted to see India enhance production.

"We will be delighted to see India enhancing its production, since this would lead to food security globally and the International market will flood with pulses."

The enhanced production by India would not damage Canada's interests, as the global market faced shortage in pulses, he said.

"We will support India in its endeavour", he said to a question on funding by IDRC.

Malone, who was appointed Rector of the United Nations University, Tokyo, an international network of scholars that serves as a think-tank for the United Nations System, was here to review the projects and also to deliver a special lecture on 'Canada-India Research Partnership-present and future'.

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