India
August 2017
XII Annual Review Meeting of ICAR Seed Project – “Seed Production in Agricultural Crops” was organized in liaison with MPKV, Rahuri. Inaugural session was graced by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, MPKV, Rahuri; Dr. K. P. Viswanatha, Dr. D. K. Yadava; ADG (Seed) (Acting), ICAR, New Delhi; Dr. K.D. Kokate; Director Extension Education, MPKV, Rahuri, Dr. S. R. Gadakh; Director of Research, MPKV, Rahuri, Dr. Malavika Dadlani; Ex-JDR, ICARIARI, New Delhi.
Dr. S. R. Gadakh welcomed the august gathering after which Dr. Dinesh K. Agarwal; Director (Acting), IISS presented progression and future thrust areas of ICAR Seed Project. He exhorted that 6.2 lakh quintals of quality seed has been produced during 2016-17 and mentioned perspectives viz. addressing VRR & SRR and model deployment by enabling partnership with varied stakeholders.
Dr. D. K. Yadava; ADG (Seed), ICAR highlighted the role played by ICAR Seed Project in increasing infrastructure capabilities of SAUs and ICAR institutes in NARES. He stressed upon the role of seed security for food security per se. Genesis of AICRP-NSP (Crops) and ICAR Seed Project and their contribution in enhancing quality seed availability was deliberated.
Share of Public and Private sectors in Indian seed domain and need for increasing public share was stressed in his address. Efforts pertaining to identification of alternative niches for seed production, amelioration of VRR and SRR levels were also emphasized in this regard. He emphasized on renewed thrust on model deployment activities (FPSP, seed village scheme) under ICAR Seed Project. Dr. K. P. Viswanatha; Hon’ble VC,
MPKV gave an overview of seed infrastructure facilities of MPKV and lauded efforts made by nodal officers of ICAR Seed Project cooperating centres for the efforts made towards quality seed production. He emphasized that MPKV is proactive in institution of gene banks and also garnered funds from state government in this regard.
He highlighted that western zone regional office of PPVFRA is being established at Pune campus of MPKV, Rahuri. Interventions for doubling of farmers income by means of integrated approach in which cultivation of horticultural crops should also be taken into account for achieving desired results was exhorted upon. He stressed the importance of maintenance breeding and allocation sufficient funds in this regard should be pondered.
ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed Mustard Research, Bharatpur and irsa Agricultural University, Ranchi were awarded as the best performing centers under the ICAR institute and university categories respectively.
Dr. M. B. Dhonde; Chief Scientist (Seeds), MPKV, Rahuri, extended the formal vote of thanks.
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