Hyderabad: Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) is in the process of establishing a National Hybrid Rice Consortium to bring all stakeholders onto a common platform to share research knowledge and put it to use in order to build the hybrid rice ecosystem.
ICAR has held several rounds of consultation meetings with public agencies and private firms on the need and on the framework for such a consortium.
“We have appointed a committee to come out with terms of reference for the consortium. We will share them with all the stakeholders and after considering the feedback we will announce the launch of the consortium,” Swapan K. Datta, Deputy Director-General of ICAR, told Business Line on the sidelines of the sixth international Hybrid Rice Symposium here on Monday.
In all likelihood, the consortium will be formed in a month. Private firms will pay a membership (about Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh). Government universities and research agencies will get membership free of charge.
The stakeholders will bring in their research output to the platform.
“Those interested can use them after paying a certain amount. The consortium would maintain a database of the research knowledge and its authors. This is to keep tabs on the unauthorised use of the material or inventions,” he said.
Initially, the consortium will take care of the hybrid rice. “We are planning to extend this to other crops as well in the future,” the ICAR official said.
“After working for years, some scientists and research bodies discard certain lines. They don’t use them any longer. They can bring such research updates to the platform. We will give the receivers non-exclusive rights,” he said.
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