THE ROLE OF THE WORLD BANK IN HORTICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - INDIA AS AN EXAMPLE

R. Epworth, H. Singh
The role of the World Bank in promotion of economic and social progress in developing countries is described. India is one of the most active borrowers from the Bank with new commitments of $2.8 billion in 1986/87. Of these funds 28% were for agriculture.

Horticulture occupies about 5 million ha of India's 163 million ha of cultivated land. Temperate fruit is grown in the Himalayan foothills. Apple production exceeded 1 million tonnes in 1985/86 but yields are static because of inadequacies in selection of planting material and orchard husbandry. There are difficulties in the transfer of technology and problems in the marketing system which must be overcome.

In the past the World Bank has been involved in the provision of handling and marketing facilities but a broader approach to such things as the provision of planting material, upgrading of extension research and credit facilities and development of off-farm storage and regional marketing facilities is envisaged for the future. Australian technicians should be well placed to assist in this process having been involved in previous projects in the sub-continent, and having a background of high technology/low farm infrastructure in the Australian industry.

Epworth, R. and Singh, H. (1989). THE ROLE OF THE WORLD BANK IN HORTICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - INDIA AS AN EXAMPLE. Acta Hortic. 240, 295-302
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.240.55
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.240.55

Acta Horticulturae