The India Post, 6th February, 2008 : The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new institute “National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management” costing Rs. 73.50 crores in the 11th Plan.
Abiotic stresses like drought, temperature extremes, flood, salinity, mineral toxicity and nutritive deficiency are threatening agriculture production globally. India being a tropical country faces such abiotic stresses to a significant degree which has implications for maintaining national food security.
The National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management shall have a comprehensive mandate of characterization of the occurrence of various abiotic stresses in the country impacting agriculture on a continuous basis and carry out basic and strategic research that will lead to development of technologies for mitigation and adoptation of crops, livestock, horticulture, fisheries and micro organisms to such stresses. The important research programs would be in a matrix mode. Organizationally it is proposed that the institute shall conduct its research programmes through four schools viz; schools of drought stress management, atmospheric stress management, edaphic stress management and policy support research.
The institute, which will be located at Malegaon ( Baramati) in Maharashtra will have a deemed to be university status.