Golden Jubilee Year Convocation - 2008

The Golden Jubilee Year Convocation-2008 of the Post Graduate School of IARI was held on 8 February 2008. Dr S. Banerjee, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai was the chief guest, who delivered the Convocation address. He emphasized that education can transform our youth into a huge human capital and make India one of the most powerful nations of the world. Dr Banerjee mentioned that we have a unique opportunity of empowering nearly half of Indian population that would be young, of capable age to have tremendous potential to move ahead in this knowledge economy-drivenc ompetitivew orld. Thee hallengeb eforeo ure ducations ystemi st op roducee mpowered youth who can pull the country up the ladder and not be a baggage causing a drag to upward movement.

Dr S.A. Patil, Director, IARI, highlighted the significant research achievements of the institute during the year 2007. Dr H.S. Gaur, Dean and Joint Director (Edn), IARI, highlighted the important role being played by the institute in human-resource development in terms of post-graduate teaching, short-term training courses and modernization of PG laboratories, lecture halls, hostels, dispensary etc. The chief guest release deight IARl publications including Agricultural!ransformations in lndia, vo l.2(compilation of LaI Bahadur Shastri memorial lectures held during 1995-2008), Pusa Agri Science, 2007, Empowering Rural Youth, Disha - PGSSU magazine and four laboratory manuals. Four IARI seed varieties, viz. HD 2932 (Pusa Wheat 111), improved Pusa Basmati 1, Mustard 21(LES I-27) and cotton PSS 2 Pusa (Arvind) were also released. At this onvocation, 75 M.Sc and 84 Ph. D. students were awarded degrees. Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degrees were awarded to three distinguished scientists in the area of Agricultural Sciences, viz. DrM.V. Rao, former Special DG, ICAR; Dr R.S. Paroda, former DG, ICAR; and Dr Mangala Rai, present DG, ICAR.

The 15th Sukumar Basu Memorial Award for the biennium 2005-06, consisting of a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and commendation certificate, was awarded to Dr (Mrs) PR. Sinha of National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, for her outstanding research contributions towards Development and study of properties of probiotic dahi.

The 12th Dr B.P. Pal Memorial Award for the year 2007, consisting of a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a gold medal and a commendation certificate, was awarded to Dr A.K. Singh, IARI, New Delhi, for his outstanding research contribution on Development of basmati rice through marker-aided selection.

The 7th Hari Krishna Shastri Memorial Award for the year 2007, consisting of a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a commendation certificate, was conferred on Dr Mathura Rai, Director, Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi (U.P.), for his outstanding research in Vegetable breeding.

Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial lecture

The 38th Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial lecture was delivered on 7 February 2008 by Dr S. Nagarajan, Chairperson, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, Government of lndia, on the topic "Intellectual property rights as an option to promote excellence in agriculture". Dr Nagarajan mentioned about pressure building on research establishments to be more accountable and able to provide an edge to the enterprise to succeed in the global market. He emphasized that the agricultural science policy, apart from recognizing the role of new innovations and knowledge, should promote procedures to get maximum benefit out of the IP holdings to ensure that India gets benefited in global business. The function was presided over by Dr V.L. Chopra, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India.

Dr A.V. Moharir, former Professor and Head, Division of Agricultural Physics, IARI, gave a presentation on 7 February 2008 on the life and achievements of DrA.B. Joshi, the first Dean of Post-Graduate School, IARI.

North Carolina State University scientists Visit

Dr Premarasu, Assistant Dean and Director, International Programmes, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, visited IVRI along with a group of 10 students during 19-20 December, 2007. She discussed with Dr Dharmeswar Das, Joint Director (Academic)-cum-Dean, the possible areas for collaboration on: (a) research and programmatic collaboration, and (b) training of graduate students and clinical experience of veterinary students.

International training

An international training course on Molecular biology and biotechnology in animal research was held in Biochemistry Division. Three participants from Nigeria attended this course. Another international training course on Isolation and characterization ofMycoplasma infections inlivestock and poultry was held in Bacteriology and Mycology Division. One trainee from the U.S.A. attended this course. The T.C.S. Colombo Plan-sponsored course on Molecular biology and biotechnology in animal research was held in Biotechnology Division. Eleven participants attended this course, in which two candidates were from Myanmar, four from Indonesia, three from Thailand and two from Sri Lanka. Besides, a short training course was also held on production and testing, in which four participants from Afghanistan were trained.

Animal farm school on air

Two Farm School on Air programmes of 21 and 36 episodes are being simultaneously broadcast from AIR to provide latest technological information pertaining to animal husbandry and veterinary practices to the end-users. These pathshalas are being broadcast from Rampur (21 January 2008) and Bareilly (5 March 2008) Akashwani Kendras respectively.