The government announced the launch of two new programmes — Biotech-KISAN and Cattle Genomics. Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said the intent of the programmes is to form a network to farmers directly with the scientists and experts.

• The Prime Minister has emphasised that it is important for scientists to work on the problems being faced by our farmers. Biotech-KISAN is a new programme that empowers farmers, especially women farmers.
• The second programme ‘Cattle Genomics’ will focus on livestock yield. Explaining Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network), the Minister said the programme focuses on the small, least educated marginalised farmers and women farmers.
• Women farmers will be offered fellowships for training must the scheme. This scheme will connect farmers with science in the 15 agro-climatic zones. In each of these 15 regions, a farmer organisation will be the hub connected to different science labs, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and State Agriculture Universities co-located in the region.
• The hub will reach out to the farmers in the region and connect them to scientists and institutions. The minister added that the network will have a commuication cell to make radio and TV programmes.

Do you know?

• Harsh Vardhan is the incumbent minister at Ministry of Science and Technology (India) and Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• He represents Chandni Chowk in Delhi as a Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha.