SKUAST-K organized 29th Annual Group meeting of AICP-National Seed Project (Crops) 2014 ANANTNAG, APRIL 24: 29th Annual Group Meeting of All India Coordinated Project (AICP)-National Seed Project (Crops) 2014 organized by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST), Shalimar, Srinagar commenced today and will continue till April 26, 2014. Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. Swapan Kumar Dutta was the chief guest on the occasion. More than 200 Scientists working in the different research organizations in India participated in the meeting. Vice-Chancellor SKUAST, Kashmir, Dr. Tej Partap presided over the meeting. Various dignitaries including, ADG (Seed) ICAR, Dr. J. S. Chauhan, Project Director, Directorate of Seed Research, Mau, UP, Dr. S. Rajendra Prasad, Director CITH, Srinagar, Dr. Nazeer Ahmad, Director Research, SKUAST-Kashmir, Dr. Shafiq A. Wani, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Dean, Faculty of Forestry, , Dr. M. Y. Zargar, Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, Dr. F. A. Zaki, Registrar, SKUAST-Kashmir Dr. Tasleem S. Ganai and various Heads of Divisions and Stations were also present in the meeting. On the occasion, the Director Research, SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Shafiq A. Wani highlighted the significances of the Seed Research vis-a-vis conducting the Annual Group Meeting 2014. Project Director, Directorate of Seed Research, Mau (UP), Dr. S. Rajandra Prasad presented the achievement made under National Seed Project (Crops) at National level and stressed on strengthening this programme in order to expand outreach and achieve identified targets under 12thPlan. The Chief Guest in his address highlighted the role of seed as a significant input in agriculture. He also mentioned that the seed is important which encapsulates the past, present and the future of the whole agriculture and is the seat of the transcending important traits. He stressed that the adequate funds should be made available to State Agriculture Universities to undertake the innovations in restructuring the research for development quality seeds. He also mentioned that the major challenge in South East Asia is availability of quality seed. He said that the food and nutritional need of the country has to be kept in mind before moving ahead in seed sector at national level keeping in view challenges posed by the climate change, early maturing and drought resistant varieties of crops needs to be developed, infrastructure facilities for seed analysis and storage needs to be strengthened across the country in order to reduce storage loss. Climate independent crops need to be developed to address issues in research. The Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, Dr. Tej Partap while delivering Presidential Address, welcomed the participants highlighted the contribution of seed research and allied sectors in the country. He also mentioned the role of modern technology in research and its possibility to fight against hunger and poverty in the country in line with the policies adopted by the J&K State Government in reviving the seed supply chain. The impact of population pressure, economic opportunities, changing urban structure and receding land holdings, the country poses a new challenge for research organizations to create new linkages in order to harvest the full potential of the available technologies in national seed programme. He highlighted the importance of seed availability to small and marginal farmers of the country to ensure economic prosperity. He also mentioned that the paradigm shift need to be made in order to develop seeds for the future and harvest the potential of indigenous gene pool repositories available in the different crops in the country. Three publications related to the Seed Research Programme were also released on this occasion. At the end of the inaugural function, Organizing Secretary, 29th Annual Group Meeting of All India Coordinated Project-National Seed Project (Crops) 2014, Dr. Rakesh Vaishnavi presented the vote of thanks to all the dignitaries, delegates, press and media for their participation in the inaugural function of the meeting.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 15:42:39 +0000
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