Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 16 : On 2nd day of the J&K Agricultural Science Congress Dr. Swapan K. Datta, Deputy Director General (Crop Science ) ICAR, New Delhi delivered Sher-e-Kashmir Memorial Lecture on the topic “Bio-engineered crops: changed with the time”. His lecture has provoked a second opinion, against the generally held negative among the audience. Dr. Datta in his lecture highlighted the basic problems of the Indian Agriculture. He elaborated in detail how modern cultivated crop varieties have been evolved and shifted from their centres of origin quoting example of shifting of Indian originated rice to other countries where it is now growing extensively. He also discussed the importance of new technologies like gene discovery, molecular biology, bio-informatics etc. through which scientists can introgress any trait of importance to a new cultivar within a period of two to three years. He also elaborated on how any gene of importance can be transferred across spices. He stressed on bio fortification of crop varities to overcome the malnutrition problem of women and children. The other prominent speakers were Dr. S.K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, CSK, HPKV, Palampur (HP), Dr. J.S. Sandhu, ADG (Seeds) ICAR, New Delhi
Later Prof. Swapan K Datta, DDG(Crop Science) ICAR, New Delhi also interacted with the Governance and Scientists of the University. Prof. Ajay Koul, Director Research gave detailed presentation on various activities of the University. Prof. Datta in his remarks emphasized the need for niche area excellence and development of competent human resource who can pursue research using cutting edge technologies. He lauded the efforts taken by the University and leads obtained in short time since its inception.. He also gave detailed account of the programmes of Govt. of India and other agencies for human resource and infrastructure development in the University. Prof. Datta also laid emphasis on development of local need based programmes. On this occasion Prof. Dilip K. Arora, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-J said that areas of the Research should be prioritized and gaps should be found out. He asked the scientists of the University to go for Research in frontier areas of the Science. Prof. Datta assured all sought of help from the ICAR in achieving the research goals fixed by the University. At the end Prof. Ajay Koul, Director Research presented the vote of thanks.
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