JORHAT, July 29: The Assam Agricultural University (AAU) has signed a Material Transfer agreement with the country’s most leading seed company Maharastra Hybrid Seed Company (MHSC), Mumbai today. This agreement was signed for transforming of Bt-Chickpea (genetically modified chickpeas using a gene from bacillus thuringiensis) lines conferring resistance against the most devastating insect pests called pod borers. It was developed by Dr BK Sarmah, Professor, Department of Agricultural Bio-Technology, AAU, Jorhat under the Indo-Swiss Bio-Technology programme.
At a meeting held at AAU, Jorhat campus under the chairmanship of AAU newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Dr KM Bujarboruah, this landmark phase of formal research collaboration in a public private partnership mode has been established.
AAU sources said that, the development of Bt-Chickpea programme is being jointly supported by the Swiss Development Corporation and the Department of Bio-Technology, New Delhi since 2001 in two phases. The GM Chickpea lines transferred to MHSC for further testing in order to take them to commercial state for the use of farmers which was developed under the second phase of ISCB started in 2004. Dr Sarmah also conducted part of his research in Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) plant industry, Australia. The original synthetic Bt-gene was obtained at AAU from National Research Centre for Plant Bio-Technology (NRCPB) of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
Regarding this agreement, the Vice-Chancellor of the University has expressed his hope that, AAU-MHSC collaboration would eventually be able to release insect resistant Chickpea varieties not only for the farmers of India but also for those of other countries. SOURCE: THE SENTINEL
At a meeting held at AAU, Jorhat campus under the chairmanship of AAU newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Dr KM Bujarboruah, this landmark phase of formal research collaboration in a public private partnership mode has been established.
AAU sources said that, the development of Bt-Chickpea programme is being jointly supported by the Swiss Development Corporation and the Department of Bio-Technology, New Delhi since 2001 in two phases. The GM Chickpea lines transferred to MHSC for further testing in order to take them to commercial state for the use of farmers which was developed under the second phase of ISCB started in 2004. Dr Sarmah also conducted part of his research in Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) plant industry, Australia. The original synthetic Bt-gene was obtained at AAU from National Research Centre for Plant Bio-Technology (NRCPB) of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
Regarding this agreement, the Vice-Chancellor of the University has expressed his hope that, AAU-MHSC collaboration would eventually be able to release insect resistant Chickpea varieties not only for the farmers of India but also for those of other countries. SOURCE: THE SENTINEL
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