India is the world’s largest producer of mangoes. Its annual output, at 18-19 million metric tonnes (MT), is about 40 per cent of the world’s production. Yet, only a tiny fraction of production, 41,280 MT in 2013-14 or 0.2%, is exported.... more
India is the world’s largest producer of mangoes. Its annual output, at 18-19 million metric tonnes (MT), is about 40 per cent of the world’s production. Yet, only a tiny fraction of production, 41,280 MT in 2013-14 or 0.2%, is exported. One of the main reasons for this is fruit-fly infestation.
Recently, a multinational research effort launched by FAO in 2009 involving nearly 50 researchers from 20 countries, concluded that four of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests are actually the same fruit fly. This has major implications for agriculture exporters, not only in India but also many other tropical countries.
Recently, a multinational research effort launched by FAO in 2009 involving nearly 50 researchers from 20 countries, concluded that four of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests are actually the same fruit fly. This has major implications for agriculture exporters, not only in India but also many other tropical countries.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
There exists a strong correlation between the material prosperity & global competitiveness of any country and its ability to master science & technology. Countries that lack the ability to acquire it tend to be poor and underdeveloped... more
There exists a strong correlation between the material prosperity & global competitiveness of any country and its ability to master science & technology. Countries that lack the ability to acquire it tend to be poor and underdeveloped while those that are able to adapt, innovate and create new technologies, are able to produce competitive goods and services. However, less than 1% of global research and development is currently spent on technological innovations for poor countries. United Nations and other donor agencies are therefore increasingly using concepts like “Knowledge Aid” and “Technological Learning”, to address a host of development issues. This research examines the role of governments and Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the transfer of technology to developing countries. Using the framework of dependency theory and path dependency, it compares four cases of technology transfer in a public utility service - Railways - in Japan and India. Of the four cases, two involve the use of ODA: the World Bank loan for the Shinkansen project in Japan (1960-64) and the Delhi Metro Project in India using JBIC/JICA loans (1998-2008). In the remaining two cases we compare technology transfer in railways using private licensing agreements between of Hiroshima LRT & Siemens (Germany) and India’s Integral Coach Factory & SWS (Switzerland). The conclusion is that the effectiveness of ODA in technology transfer depends to a large extent on how recipient governments encourage indigenous research & development institutions, as well as competition & collaboration amongst domestic engineering firms.
Research Interests:
Indian industry has shown little interest in overtures from public sector R&D labs. And, unlike in Japan, India's ivory-tower scientists are wary of working closely with private companies and factory workers.
Delhi Metro preferred to put its faith in foreign consultants, unlike Japan which encouraged its own rail companies.