Hyderabad, Feb 7 : Noting that biotechnology is the key in improving agriculture productivity and ensuring a higher growth rate, Vice President Hamid Ansari today called for the advancement of such technologies and directing them towards resource-poor farmers and under-developed regions.
Addressing the inaugural session of “Bio Asia 2008” here today, Ansari listed various reasons for biotechnology being important for the country, the foremost being the fact that “it lies at the intersection of two areas that are critical to our economy – agriculture and the knowledge industry.”
“India being the second largest food producer offers a huge market for biotechnology products,” he added.
Jagatsinghpur (Orissa) Feb 7 : The much-awaited socio - economic survey began in the proposed 12 billion dollar steel plant planned by South Korean steel maker POSCO in Jagatsinghpur district on Thursday.
The villagers, agitating against the proposed mega steel plant, have agreed to allow the survey team after three days of intense negotiation.
POSCO and the government have agreed to meet most of the demands made by agitators.
The socio-economic survey will continue for at least one month.