India to Establish National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management

India’s Cabinet has approved the establishment of  the National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management with an initial budget of Rs. 73.50 crore (around US$15 million) in the 11^th Five Year Plan (2007-2012). Abiotic stresses like drought, temperature extremes, flood, salinity, mineral toxicity and nutritive deficiency are threatening agriculture production globally. India being a tropical country faces such abiotic stresses to a significant degree which has implications for maintaining national food security.

The National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management will carry out basic and strategic research that will lead to development of technologies for mitigation and adaptation of crops, livestock, horticulture, fisheries and micro- organisms to such stresses. The important research programs will be in a matrix mode and will be involve four disciplines: drought stress management, atmospheric stress management, edaphic stress management, and policy support research. The institute will be located at Malegaon, Baramati Dist. in Maharashtra State of India and will have a deemed-to-be university status.

For details of the National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management visit http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=47087 For more information about biotech developments in India contact: b.choudhary@cgiar.org and k.gaur@cgiar.org