Looking to boost farming sector growth by more than four per cent, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has chalked out a massive Rs 2300 crore programme on various projects, including research.

"Now every state is coming up well in the agricultural sector, with many touching close to about 2.8 percent. However, our annual target agricultural growth rate is about four percent," ICAR director general Dr S Ayyappan said.

These initiatives include gearing up to meet new challenges in climate change, public-private partnership (PPP) projects and programmes to make more people take to agriculture as a livelihood.

"We are working deeply in all aspects in the country on climate change," he said.

The PPP initiative will benefit both sectors, besides the farmers. "More emphasis on innovation and interaction between the two sectors may result in more synergy among them," he said.

To lure more people to take up agriculture as livelihood, various initiatives like farmers' training and capacity building for more innovative agricultural practices have been chalked out. "We are also trying to bring them to higher stage by identifying innovators in each district and giving them awards at the national level," he said.