32nd Foundation Day of ICAR-DMAPR

24th November 2023, Anand

The 32nd Foundation Day of the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, was celebrated today.

Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences and Hort. Sciences), ICAR, was the Chief Guest of the programme. He opined that there is need for exhaustive conservation of germplasm of MAPs in the country. Dr. Sharma suggested to use DNA technologies and advanced phytochemical analysis for characterisation of germplasm accessions of MAPs. He emphasised for development of improved crop production and protection technologies and precision agricultural technologies such as sensors, drone and satellites for promotion of MAPs in the country.

  

Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General (Flowers, Vegetables, Spices & Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), ICAR, was the Guest of Honour of the programme. He emphasised the importance of good agricultural and collection practices for the quality of raw drugs of medicinal plants.

  

Shri. GP Sharma, Joint Secretary (Finance), ICAR and Shri. MK Jain, Joint Secretary (Personal), ICAR were the Special Guests in the program.

Shri. Sharma, emphasised the importance of medicinal and aromatic plants for entrepreneurship development and the economy of the country.

Shri. Jain, emphasised the importance of medicinal and aromatic plants in Health and Wellness. He opined there is a need for the development of value-added products for this group of plants for economic development.

  

Dr. Manish Das, Director, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand welcomed the guests and highlighted the significant achievements of the ICAR-DMAPR during last one year.

Earlier, Dr. TR Sharma, inaugurated the Technology Demonstration Block and Speed breeding Facility at the Directorate. Dr. Sharma also presented awards to the Progressive farmers (Sri. Birbal Ram Saran, Parewara Village, Bidasar Tehsil, Churu, Rajasthan and Sri. Tadvi Devabhai Jesamgbhai, Dhamdsa Village, Garudeshwar Tehsil, Narmada, Gujarat) cultivating MAPs. Awards were also presented to the Best Entrepruners (M/s. Karbokisaan, Bangaluru and M/s. Green-Cross Agritech Pvt Ltd, Ahmedabad) of ICAR-Medi-Hub, Technology Business Incubator. The scientists and staff of ICAR-DMAPR were also awarded.

Further, Dr. Sharma felicitated, Dr. K.C. Dalal, Formerly Director, the National Research Center on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Dr. Satyabrata Maiti, Formerly Director, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand for their contributions to the development of the Directorate.

The program was attended by the Heads and Professors of various departments from AAU, Anand and Heads of ICAR organisations located in Gujarat, Incubatees of ICAR-Medi-Hub, TBI, scientists and staff of ICAR-DMAPR, Anand.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand)