Market Information System for Horticultural Crops:Web Application Development for Interactive Graphs

Marketing information service has been recognized as key for success in marketing of perishable commodities. Effort has been made to improve access to market information to all stakeholders involved in marketing of horticultural crops. Current study is an attempt in this direction to review various modes of such information support and also to highlight the effort made by premier institution like Indian Institute of Horticultural Research. Web application has been developed for Market information to display the data as Interactive graphs. Data for the study includes the month-wise arrival and price information of different horticultural commodities from different markets for a period of ten years. This is collected from primary sources such as District -wise, Marketwise and secondary sources such as NHB, NHRDF etc., the data were tabulated and uploaded to Microsoft SQL server database through customized CMS module. Further, the price arrival data has been translated to the Interactive Charts by programs developed using Microsoft Visual studio. NET technologies, which is a relatively new addition to IIHR website. Interactive Charts are used for drilling down for more information on price and arrivals. It consists of several interactive components like zoom, compare etc. Zoom component of the chart enables the user to zoom the graph to read the price trend prevailed in market in detail, which cannot be possible on Basic Chart. The Compare option allows user to compare price data with several other markets. The farmers and traders will get the advantage of taking precise decisions regarding choice of time and place for sale of their produce using this information system. Further, lean, peak stabilization periods prevailing in various markets enable farmers to schedule the cultivation plans

Technology Commercialization through Licensing: Experiences and Lessons-A Case Study from Indian Horticulture Sector

363-374    Innovative technical knowledge has been accepted globally as the most critical input for crop productivity enhancement. Protecting such technical innovative knowledge through intellectual property protection and commercialization through licensing are main components of development agenda recognized world over. With the commercialization of agricultural sector, the role of private sector in agriculture is growing worldwide. In this changing environment, the governments around the world are developing and adapting new policies and laws that promote and foster public private partnerships. In most emerging economies, where public sector still remains the dominant source of technologies in agriculture, often are constrained by lack of adequate infrastructure and finance for scaling up and commercialization of such technical knowhow. With globalization, a visible shift is emerging in middle and low income economies towards innovation, technology transfer and commercialization, emulating the experiences of developed countries. While policy emulation is well accepted, it is not certain that what works for one country would also work elsewhere. Following the rich experiences of the Bayh-Dole Act of the United States, a number of emerging economies have modified their policy frameworks in anticipation of developing an effective technology transfer and innovation strategy.     This paper reviews the experiences of technology transfer and commercialization processes in Brazil, China and Chile with reference to technology policy, patenting, technology transfer, and commercialization efforts and compares them with the efforts made by Indian agriculture. The paper further details the technology commercialization efforts put forth under the Indian conditions taking the case of a research institute under the horticulture sector. Results indicated increased number of technology transfers between public to public and public to private sector, increased number of patents filed. The primary objective of the paper is also to highlight the unique experiences and lessons in the process of commercialization that needs critical examination. While technology commercialization through licensing increased awareness among scientists towards IPR related activities like patent filing, enhanced visibility of the institute’s products, better valuation of the technologies, and increased interest towards horticulture based entrepreneurship development. The linkage between institute and other horticultural departments appeared to have got strengthened, while scientists and licensees collating to enhance their business prospects was also observed, suggesting the need for evolving a full proof system of technology transfer and commercialization

Technology Transfer and Commercialization – Innovative model for Strengthening Research and Industry Linkages and Valuation through Public Private Partnership in Agriculture

Innovative technical knowledge, often packaged as ‘improved technology’ is imperative for agricultural crop productivity enhancement. The effort of technology development is complete, only when it is adopted by the end user, as a product suitable for commercial application. It is thus imperative that the university /research organizations understand the needs of the industry or work in close collaboration with the industry. With a view to enhance University /research-Industry linkages, augmenting ‘market driven research’ and assign  ‘value ‘ to innovative research, universities world over have initiated Technology Transfer &  Commercialization efforts.  Public sector lead university/ research organizations are repositories of rich crop germplasm that could offer unique solutions or provide a platform for modern improved technologies with effective pest and disease resistance traits. Use of such germplasm for developing varieties/hybrids with disease or pest resistance both by public and private sector research efforts is the order of the day. However, these could just be simple exchanges; or simple licensing between public and private sector units involving arbitrarily assigned value and not active partnership. A collaboration that not only enhances the value of the material in use, but also brings forth multitude of benefits across the society is the one that needs to be promulgated in emerging economies, especially while utilizing genetic resources. This paper presents three models of PPP involving unique approaches of valuing improved genetic material and also promoted effective public private partnerships by Brazil, Chile and USA for emulation by other emerging economies

Technology Transfer and Commercialization – Innovative Model for Strengthening Research and Industry Linkages and Valuation through Public Private Partnership in Agriculture*

167-176Innovative technical knowledge, often packaged as ‘improved technology’ is imperative for agricultural crop productivity enhancement. The effort of technology development is complete only when it is adopted by the end user as a product suitable for commercial application. It is thus important that university/research organizations understand industry needs or work in close collaboration with the industry. With a view to enhance university/research-industry linkages, augmenting ‘market driven research’ and assigning ‘value’ to innovative research, universities world-over have initiated technology transfer and commercialization efforts. Public sector lead university/research organizations are repositories of rich crop germplasm and skilled plant breeding that could offer unique solutions or provide a platform for modern improved technologies with effective pest and disease resistance traits. Use of such germplasm for developing varieties/hybrids with disease or pest resistance both by public and private sector research efforts is the order of the day. However, these could just be simple exchanges; or simple licensing between public and private sector units involving arbitrarily assigned value and not active partnership. A collaboration that not only enhances the value of the material in use, but also brings forth a multitude of benefits to society is a model that needs to be promulgated in emerging economies, especially while utilizing genetic resources. This paper presents three such models of public-private partnerships by Brazil, Chile and USA involving unique approaches of valuing improved genetic material that helped enhance the overall value of the end product and also promoted effective public private partnerships for emulation by other emerging economies

Adoption and Implementation of Intellectual Property Rights: Experiences of Selected Countries†

33-45The new global trade order, initiated at the Uruguay round of global trade negotiations culminated in the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). One of the important prescriptions of the new trade rules in the form of Trade- Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) includes the compulsive modification of the existing Intellectual property protection legislation with regard to agriculture especially by the developing countries. The new set of rules prescribed by WTO under TRIPS were opined to open new dimensions in the type and extent of research exchange between the nations and also aim at redefining the role of public and private research organizations. One of the important reasons for extending intellectual property (IP) protection for plants and other living organisms, it is said, is to make agriculture a commercial venture and for attracting private investment into agricultural research. The popular rationale in support of intellectual property rights (IPR) for plants has often said to be one of stimulating effect. The present study reviews the economic impact of the adoption of IP protection mechanisms in USA and Latin American countries. Results indicated that availability of IP protection is in itself insufficient in determining the rate of innovation. More important factors like the scientific base of plant breeding, market forces and demand side factors appear to have greater influence in determining the rate of introduction of new varieties. Consolidation by the multinationals in seed industry and increased seed prices were among the other significant results. The need to commercialize new plant varieties has raised the strategic importance of public germplasm and reduced its availability for other users. On the other hand, access to public germplasm by the private seed industry improved due to more formal and transparent procedures. The PBRs like many other policy instruments were favourable towards resource rich farmers than the small and marginal groups