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lastindia Foundation, which is also the organiser of India's largest plastics show, is launching a knowledge centre in the country. The US$25 million centre, which is a project that comes under the framework of the Indian government, will be located in Vapi, Gujarat.

Speaking to PRA at the recent K2010 show in Germany, President of Plastindia, Ashok Geol, said, "The aim is to develop a knowledge pool for the plastics industry. The centre will conduct technical and managerial courses as well as have design, development and training centres," said Geol. International collaborations with universities are expected and discussions are underway with the University of California, Berkeley, and other institutions to develop course structures. Geol also said that the campus was being designed and it would be up and running in three years from now.

Another initiative Plastindia is undertaking is a project to promote micro-irrigation and greenhouse farming in the country. It is expected that 17 million ha of agricultural land in the country will be converted from flood irrigation to the more modern process of drip irrigation to improve crop yields under the Plastics Culture project. Tunnel mulching will also be introduced in drought prone areas.

The association is adopting 16 villages in the Maharashtra state, housing 1,400 farmers over a land area of 5,000 ha. "We will underwrite some of the costs and the rest will come from government loans," said Geol.

Plastindia has committed US$500,000 over the next two years, said Geol. "Farmers will be able to produce two or even three crops, thus doubling their income," he added.