60th Convocation of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
14 February 2022, New Delhi: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute has been the paragon of excellence in agricultural research and education in India. It has also provided leadership to the National Agricultural Research System for advancements in agricultural research, education and extension. IARI has also contributed for human resource development and has played a key role in the establishment of (i) Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU), Kandahar, Afghanistan; and (ii) Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education (ACARE), Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar.
The 60th convocation of IARI, New Delhi was organized today in the Bharat Ratna Shri C Subramanium Hall of NASC. The chief guest of the convocation, the Union Minster of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar applauded the significant contributions made by the institute for ensuring food and nutritional security through development of superior varieties and technologies. He exhorted the students for entrepreneurship development and appealed for taking up farming as a profession. He also appreciated the efforts of institute for the development of new varieties and technology in the field of agriculture. He highlighted the government priorities in the field of agricultural research and farmers’ welfare. He highlighted on implementing the use of drone technology for the benefit of farmers and employment generation for various stakeholders.
Sh. Kailash Chaudhary, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was the guest of Honour during the event. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, Dr. A. K. Singh, Vice Chancellor and Director, ICAR-IARI and Dr. Rashmi Aggarwal, Dean and Joint Director (Education) also graced the occasion. The Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour handed over the awards and the degrees to the recipients. The Post Graduate School of this Institute awarded degrees to 284 students, which includes 8 foreign students.
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On this occasion NABARD-Professor VL Chopra Gold Medal & Best Student of the Year award for MSc and PhD were presented to Ms. Debarati Mondal and Dr. Siddharood Maragal, respectively. Prof. R.B. Singh; Former Director, IARI, New Delhi was conferred upon D.Sc honoris causa and VI Dr. A.B. Joshi Memorial award was presented to Dr. D.K. Yadava, ADG (Seeds), ICAR, New Delhi; 2nd Best Agricultural Extension Scientist Award was presented to Dr. R.N. Padaria, Head & Professor, Division of Agricultural Extension, IARI, New Delhi; XXII Shri Hari Krishna Shastri Memorial award was given to Dr. A.D. Munshi, Principal Scientist, Division of Vegetable Science, IARI, New Delhi; XXII Sukumar Basu Memorial Award was presented to Dr. Rajan Sharma, Principal Scientist, Dairy Chemistry Division, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal; IARI Best Teacher award was given to Dr C.M. Parihar, Division of Agronomy, IARI, New Delhi. The Chief guest dedicated 6 varieties of fruits and vegetables to the nation viz., two varieties of mango Pusa Lalima, Pusa Shresth, brinjal variety Pusa Vaibhav, palak variety Pusa Vilayati palak, cucumber variety Pusa Gynoecious Cucumber Hybrid-18 and Pusa Alpana variety of rose.
Earlier, the Director of the institute, Dr A.K. Singh presented the significant achievements of the institute and informed that wheat varieties developed by this institute contribute nearly 60 million tons of wheat to nation’s granary worth Rs. 80,000 crores annually. Similarly, the Basmati varieties developed by the institute predominate basmati cultivation in India accounting for 90% of the total foreign exchange (Rs. 29524 crores) earned through export of Basmati rice amounting to Rs. 32,804 crores. About 48% of mustard grown area in the Country is cultivated with IARI varieties. The total economic surplus generated from Pusa Mustard 25 is estimated at Rs 14323 crores (at 2018 prices) during the last 9 years.
The event was also attended by the other dignitaries including Deputy Director Generals and Additional Director Generals of the Council, former Directors and Deans of the Institute, Project Director (WTC), Head of Divisions and Professors. A large number of Faculty members, Students and staff of the Institute watched the event through virtual mode on the Institute’s YouTube channel.
