Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), Government of Goa, honours ICAR-CCARI scientist Dr. Manohara K K

    ICAR-CCARI Scientist Dr. Manohara, K. K., honoured with the prestigious ‘Goa State Biodiversity Conservation Award’’ for the year 2022 in the ‘’Applied Biodiversity Researcher’ category during the World Environment Day programme held on 5^th June 2022. The award carries a citation, Rs. 25000/- and a memento. He was awarded for his significant contribution to the conservation and utilisation of native rice varieties of Goa state. The salt-tolerant rice varieties developed by Dr. Manohara utilizing native salinity landrace Korgut have been able to bring back cultivation of paddy in the low lying coastal saline soils that are barren and left fallow due to continuous salinity and water logged problems. The improved seeds of indigenous paddy varieties supplied to farmers helped in reviving the old traditional varieties and created livelihood opportunities for farmers in the state.  He mobilized tribal farmers in the remote villages of Goa state and benefited a number of farmers through the production of quality seeds via participatory seed production. Certificates of recognition were given to Dr. Sreekanth, G. B., and Mr. Trivesh Mayekar, fisheries scientists of this Institute for their contribution in identification, conservation and documentation of native fish species. Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director ICAR-CCARI, was the chief guest and the award ceremony was held at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.