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LINKAGES
National:
The Academy implements most of its programmes through the ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, and other Research Organizations/NGOs with whom it has strong linkages. These linkages are nurtured and strengthened by its Fellows working in these organizations. The Academy also joined the initiative taken recently to establish linkages among the science Academies of India, such as the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, Indian National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad and National Academy of Medical Sciences, to address issues concerning (a) better public understanding of science in the country, and (b) identification of frontline issues facing the country in which science and scientists have a stake.
International:
The Academy has taken steps to establish and renew linkages with Science Academies in other countries as well. Discussions have been held with thirteen such Academies for entering into Memoranda of Understanding indicating the areas of collaboration. So far, nine Memoranda of Understanding have been signed which include the Academia National de Ciencial Bolivia, Lapaz; the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences; the Agricultural Research Institute of Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt; African Academy of Sciences; National Academic Centre for Agrarian Research, Khazakhstan; Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS); and Italian National Academy of Sciences. The Academy participated in the deliberations of the International Human Rights Network of World Academies and Scholarly Societies organized by the US National Academy of Sciences in 2001 in Paris and has now become an integral part of the network. The Academy is getting regular inputs from the network. A delegation of the Academy, comprising Professor V.L. Chopra (Leader), Drs. Panjab Singh, R.P. Sharma, and S.M. Virmani visited People’s Republic of China during 15-21 November 2004, under the provision of MoU signed with CAAS in October 2003.
Establishment of Afghanistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences During the India-Afghanistan Symposium on “Converting Deserts Into Oasis” organized by the Academy at New Delhi on 19-21 November 2006, His Excellency, the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai expressed his strong desire to reform agriculture sector in Afghanistan. Following this meeting, the Indo-Afghan Joint Committee deliberated on this suggestion and arrived at a conclusion to recommend the establishment of a dedicated organization to strengthen the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in Afghanistan and to look after the needs of Afghan farmers and farming systems in particular, and management of natural resources and agriculture sector in general.
The Indo-Afghan Joint Committee suggested the formation of an “Afghanistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (AAAS)” under the patronage of Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Afghanistan as an apex organization to manage and promote agricultural research & education in the country. On an agreement between the Governments of India and Afghanistan, it was suggested that a Team of experts from the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India, should visit Afghanistan to study the feasibility of setting up of an Afghanistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences assigned with the responsibility of human resource development, technology generation and transfer, and international collaboration in areas of HRD, research, bio-security, etc. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan arranged for the visit of a 5-member National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) delegation (Dr. M.L. Madan, Dr. S.P. Ghosh, Dr. R.K. Singh, Dr. Farid Waliyar and Dr. P.S. Pathak) for preparing an operational plan for setting up the Afghanistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (AAAS). The team visited Kabul during 15-22 May, 2007 and had intensive discussions with the senior officials of relevant Ministries and other related agencies and organizations to seek their opinion on the feasibility and mode of implementation of such a proposal.
The team of experts noted the major constraints of Afghan agriculture and studied the current status of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in Afghanistan, and the need and scope for its restructuring and strengthening. It also studied the feasibility of establishment of an Afghanistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (AAAS) in Kabul with clearly defined goals and structure. The Report of the team of expert has been sent to the concerned Ministries of both the Indian and Afghan Governments for their consideration and implementation.
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