07 March 2021, New Delhi: The “57th Annual Group Meeting of ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millets” was virtually organized from 2nd to 3rd March, 2022.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) stressed on the need of the Public-Private Partnership, Natural Farming, Development of Hybrids / Varieties for the A1 Zone and Organoleptic Properties of Local Landraces like Jafrabadi, etc. The Director General urged for making the special efforts / activities to create awareness among the people to consume Pearl Millets.
Delivering his address, Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR suggested that the pre-breeding and molecular breeding work should be taken-up and lead by the ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; ICAR-IIMR and ICRISAT.
Dr. B.R. Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor, Agricultural University, Jodhpur briefed about the efforts made by the group for the development of the hybrids / varieties for A1 Zone which helped in enhancing the productivity of the Pearl Millets in the Western Rajasthan.
Dr. R.K. Singh, ADG (CC&FFC), ICAR stressed on broadening the genetic base and including the good germplasm to improve the breeding programme & focusing on the basic strategic research.
Dr. S.K. Malhotra, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, New Delhi and Former Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, New Delhi urged for popularizing the developed technologies of Pearl Millets on farmers’ fields through the Front Line Demonstrations.
Dr. Tonapi, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad stated that the Institute will provide the platform for basic strategies & research to enhance the genetic gain.
Dr. Raghav Reddy, Former Vice-Chancellor, ANGRAU & Chairman, PAMC urged the scientists for taking more interest in identifying the good germplasm and popularizing the developed hybrids / varieties through the Front Line Demonstrations and Memorandums of Understanding.
Around 150 participants from the various parts of the country representing both public and private sectors involved in Pearl Millet R&D virtually attended the Meeting.
