Ludhiana: Amidst the din of aggressive campaigning for promotion of BT cotton in Punjab, scientists from Punjab Agricultural University have called for a more proactive role of the agriculture industry in trainer training, farmers' training and more research on bio-transgenic crops before allowing them into the food chain.

India's own Bt cotton is set for commercial release.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today accentuated the need to undertake the "second Green Revolution that will enhance agriculture productivity as also adopt new technologies for the optimum utilization of agricultural produce" so as to take on the urgent challenge of our times food crisis.

DHUBRI

The Union Minister for Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, with the State ministers for agriculture at an exhibition of sorghum at the national conference, held at NAARM in Hyderabad on Monday. The Union Government would announce the much-awaited minimum support price (MSP) for paddy for this kharif season soon. Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a national conference of the Ministers of Agriculture here on Monday, Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister, said the Government would, in all likelihood, announce the MSP on May 29 or 30. He hinted that the MSP would be higher.

If cleared, it will study impact of climate conditions on crops, minerals Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's hometown Baramati in Pune district would in all probability house the ambitious National Institute for Abiotic Stress proposed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This would be the first research institute of its kind to study the impact of climate conditions on crops and minerals in the country.

The Directorate of Open and Distance Learning of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, is currently offering twenty one certificate courses for the benefit of farmers, entrepreneurs and self-help groups. Course details