ICAR-CCARI Goa celebrated its 34th Foundation Day

 

    The ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Old Goa, Goa celebrated its 34^th Foundation Day on 1^st April 2023. As a Chief Guest, Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Hon’ble DDG (NRM), ICAR, New Delhi, graced the occasion. In his remarks, he congratulated the Institute for its achievements and urged it to keep up the research and development for the benefit of the coastal farmers. Further, he highlighted the emerging issues of the coastal ecosystem and stressed the need to cope with the challenges of climate change and its impacts. ‘The biodiversity of coastal regions is an enormous opportunity; we should utilize it sustainably’, he highlighted. He appreciated the Government of Goa and DoA for taking necessary steps to make Goan agriculture vibrant by emphasizing agricultural education, extension, and research. He complimented the networking and the collaborations by ICAR-CCARI with the state line department, funding agencies, and stakeholders. He urged scientists to research natural farming by identifying niche commodities and areas. Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCAR, Goa and host of the programme welcomed the dignitaries and deliberated upon the achievements of the Institute since its inception and last one year. ‘ICAR-CCARI will extend all its support through technological backstopping and transfer of technology programmes to all the stakeholders for the benefit of the coastal farmers’ he assured. He thanked the ICAR and Hon’ble DDG for his continuous guidance and support to ICAR-CCARI. Special Guest, Shri. Nevil Alphonso, Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Govt. of Goa, congratulated ICAR-CCARI and thanked the ICAR and Institute for the support extended to initiating the Goa College of Agriculture and the very first agricultural college in the State. He emphasized taking a systematic and focused approach to promote the cultivation and processing of millet to celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023. Shri. Pradip Sarmokadam, Member Secretary, GSBB, Govt. of Goa, Special Guest, appreciated the collaborative efforts of the Institute to conserve and utilize biodiversity. He thanked the continuous support for the action plan preparation of the board and urged to support their activities by scientific backstopping. Shri. Milind Bhirud, General Manager, NABARD, Goa, Special Guest, emphasized strengthening the collaborative efforts on research and development to benefit the farmers. A unit of ICAR - IARI’s  Jalopchar^TM Technology-based ‘Eco-friendly Wastewater Treatment Facility’ of capacity to treat 1 lakh Liter water under the Swachhta Action Plan Program was inaugurated by Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Hon’ble DDG (NRM), ICAR, New Delhi. Developer of the technology, Dr. Ravinder Kaur, Principal Scientist, Water Technology Center, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, coordinated the inauguration and explained the concept and functioning of the plant to the dignitaries and participants. The celebration of Foundation Day also featured a lecture by Dr. Jagannath V. Dixit, Professor, Department of Community Medicines, BJ Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, on a plan and lifestyle to reverse type 2 diabetes. On occasion, the staff and employees of the Institute were felicitated with awards in scientific, technical, administrative, skilled support staff, and project staff categories to recognize their significant contribution to the research and institution-building activities. Two special team awards were awarded to teams of the scientist who contributed significantly to converting the barren lands to green lands through systematic transfer of technology programmes and for admirable compilation of the farmers profile that led to one Padma, one national and two state level award to the farmers. One annual hind magazine Lehrein (लहरें) and seven extension folders were released during the programme. Guest invitees, officers from State line departments, CPWD, health sector, banks, farmers, etc. and press and media participated in the programme. Scientists, technical, administration, skilled support staff, YPs, project staff, and contractual staff of the Institute and Sr. Scientist and Head I/c, SMS and staff of KVK, North Goa attended the programme.