ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute

 

His Excellency, Honorable Governor of Goa Shri. Bharat Vir Wanchoo Inaugurated 10th National Symposium on “Biotechnological approaches for Plant Protection: Constraints and Opportunities’’ at ICAR Research Complex for Goa, Goa on 27th January, 2013. He emphasised that the challenges in agriculture are major and scientific method are important to solve these issues so that higher growth rate in agriculture can be achieved in future. Further he said that the pest problems complicate the production scenario and the stakeholders should join hands to achieve the target that was committed. He emphasised use of good agricultural practices to mitigate the pest and disease issues. Food safety, customer accessibility and sustainability in agriculture were highlighted in his speech. Further he said that biotechnology and information technology added useful research tools to the researches and these technologies need to be used in increase in agriculture production. He suggested e-surveillance and pest advisory services for precise forecast and further management of pest and disease. He highlighted the importance of green house cultivation of agricultural produce and advised to adopt new technologies including bio-pesticides to fight existing or emerging problems in plant protection.

Dr. N.P. Singh, Director of the Institute welcomed the chief guest, dignitaries and other delegates. In his welcome address, he briefed about the institute and the research activities of the centre. He highlighted the importance of horticulture and eco-tourism in the State. Dr. Singh described the problems faced by the farmers of the region especially pest and diseases in high value crops. He emphasised the demand of the farmers for new, innovative and eco-friendly technologies including biotechnology to solve these issues.

National organising secretary of the symposium, Dr. D. Prasad, introduced the theme of the symposium. He elaborated about the society of plant protection sciences, its objectives and the scientific publication. To recognise the contribution to plant protection several scientists from across the country were awarded with awards and fellows. The awards are presented by His Excellency, Governor of Goa.

Shri. V.P. Rao, Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Govt. of Goa in his guest of honour address invited the scientists to work hard to help the farming community by developing sustainable technologies.

 Co-organising secretary, Dr. Naved Sabir proposed vote of thanks.