According to the state agriculture minister TB Jayachandra, Karnataka now supplies 50 per cent of the seed requirements of the country. In value terms, this is estimated to be a business of Rs 140 crore per year. Delivering the keynote address at the two-day Asian Seed Conference-2000 held here on Tuesday, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) director RS Paroda said, natural environment and expertise in information technology makes Karnataka the ideal state to become the seed superpower of India.

The natural conditions prevailing in the state were ideal for developing new varities of seeds, Mr Paroda said. The state has already established a reputation for developing the best quality hybrid cotton seeds, hybrid rice variety, vegetables seeds, flowers, maize, etc. With the country poised to make a major foray into bio-technology, Bangalore could provide the much needed interface between agriculture and IT, said Mr Paroda, who is also the general president of the 88th session of the Indian Science Congress to be held in New Delhi in the first week of January 2000. According to Mr Paroda, IT is going to play a major role in shaping the bio-technology driven agriculture practices to be implemented in the country. Mr Paroda said the agriculture sector will play a crucial role in achieving the seven per cent annual GDP growth targetted by the country in the coming years. Mr Paroda brushed aside the apprehensions expressed by environmentalists against bio-technology and genetically modified food products."If India wants to achieve a seven per cent GDP growth per year, the growth in agricultural produce should be four per cent. The role of technology cannot be underestimated," Mr Paroda added. A full day symposium on IT in Agriculture and Intellectual Property Rights is to be held on January 5 in New Delhi as part of the Indian Science Congress. Experts from India and abroad would be making presentations during the symposium, Mr Paroda said. According to Mr Paroda more than 5000 scientists from the country will take part in the 88th Session of the Indian Science Congress devoted to agriculture.

The focus will be on food, nutrition and environmental safety. Besides, eminent scientists such as Dr Norman Borlag and Dr Ismail Serageldin will also be attending the Congress. Seven out of the 12 World Food Award winners have also confirmed their participation, Mr Paroda said. The Congress will also have an international exposition ``Agrovision-2001'' showcasing seven theme pavillions during the five-day conference commencing from January 3 to 7. The theme paviilion on food and industry will discuss agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, dairy and poultry. Allied industry pavillion will focus on seeds, fertilisers, bio-fertilisers, pesticides, equipment and machinery. While the food processing section will discuss issues concerning processing technology, processing equipment, packaging, storage and transportation. Effluent treatment and waste disposal will be the focus areas under environment. In the finance section, role of nationalised banks, international banks and other national and international fundingbodies will be under focus. The section on research and development will examine the role of research institutes and universities, private research organisations and non-governmental organisations. The role of bio-technology in food and allied industry is another major theme to be discussed at the Congress.