ICAR-NIBSM celebrates 12th Foundation Day

7th October 2023, Raipur

ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) celebrated its 12th Foundation Day here today.

Dr. R. S. Paroda, Chairman TAAS, Former Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR and Chief Guest of the function delivered the foundation day lecture on “Scaling Innovations Critical for Agri-Food Systems Transformation in India” and emphasized on scaling up of innovations such as hybrid technology, genetically modified crops, conservation agriculture for sustainable intensification, micro-irrigation, fertigation, Integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, protected cultivation, vertical farming besides the use of genome editing, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence etc., for resilience and sustainability in agriculture.

Dr. S. N. Nigam, Former Principal Scientist, ICRISAT, Hyderabad and Special Guest of the function urged for exploring wild relatives of crop plants for resistant genes against biotic stresses to breed resistant varieties as the resistant varieties are the only possible solution for many of the biotic stresses.

Dr. G. Mani, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Guest of Honour of the foundation day function elaborated on the role NABARD in empowering farmers lives with better income and prosperity in his lecture. He extended support of NABARD in various farmer-centric initiatives of the ICAR-NIBSM.

Dr. S. S. Baghel, Former Vice Chancellor, CAU Imphal and AAU, Jorhat emphasized on developing/generating the intermediate knowledge/technology should be the prime objective of the NIBSM and he also expressed integrated nutrient management and soil organic carbon enrichment is the need of the hour.

Prof. Wolf B Frommer, Alexander von Humboldt Professor, Heinrich Heine University, Germany, delivered a special talk on the topic “Advances in helping rice to protecting against successful pathogen infection using genetics” virtually on the occasion of foundation day

Dr. P. K. Ghosh, Director, ICAR-NIBSM delivered welcome address and presented the annual progress report and achievements of the institute for the last one year.

All the participants observed condolences to Late Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, the legend and father of Indian green revolution, who expired on 28th September 2023 at the age of 98.

Publications especially Good Agricultural Practices in field crops were released and meritorious scientists were duly awarded during the occasion.

The farmer and scientist interaction meeting were organized on the occasion of foundation day.

(Source: ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur)