Indian Knowledge Initiative in Agriculture

 The Knowledge Initiative in Agriculture between India and the United States began in earnest during 2006.  The KIA was proposed by U.S. President George Bush and by Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh, to Washington, D.C. during summer, 2005. Bobby Moser, Vice President for Agricultural Administration, attended several AKI Board meetings. A competitive grants program was initiated by USDA/FAS related to it.  OSU had two projects funded under the program.  They are designed to build an academy for teaching/learning excellence at the Punjab Agricultural University and to research On-Farm Water Management for Rain Fed Agriculture on Benchmark Watersheds in Diverse Eco-Regions of India which includes participation with the Punjab Agricultural University and with the JNKVV Agricultural University in Jabalpur.  The KIA  emphasizes a) capacity building in higher agricultural education b) food processing and food quality c) natural resource conservation and management; and d) biotechnology. OSU has a history of active participation in programs dealing with these four topics in India.

The Ohio State University     College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences        Office of International Education