24 AGM
24 Annual Group Meeting
Programme
Venue: ICAR-CCAIR, Goa
Period: May 26-29, 2015
26.05.2015
09.00 AM – 09.30 AM : Registration
09.30 AM – 10.30 AM : INAUGURAL SESSION
Welcome : Dr. N.P. Singh,
Coordinator’s Report : Dr. H.P. Maheswarappa
Guests of honour : Mr. Manoj Kumar Sahoo, IAS, Secretary, Agriculture,
Govt. of Goa
Dr. S.K. Sharma
Dr. P.L. Saroj
Dr. A.S. Kumarasway
Release of publications
Chief Guest Address : Mr. Manoj Kumar Sahoo, IAS, Secretary, Agriculture, Govt. of Goa
Vote of Thanks : Dr. V. Arunachalam
SUMMARY REPORT
The Annual Group meeting of All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms was organized from 26th to 28th May, 2015 at ICAR-Central Costal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa. The Annual Group Meeting was inaugurated by Mr. Manoj Kumar Sahoo, IAS, Secretary, Agriculture, Govt. of Goa. The inaugural function was presided by Dr. S.K. Sharma, Director, CIAH, Bikanir, Dr. P.L. Saroj, Director, DCR, Puttur and Dr. A.S. Kumarasway, Former Dean of Education (UAHS), Shivamogga graced the occasion. Besides, Dr. P. Chowdappa, Director, CPCRI, Kasaragod, Head of Divisions of CPCRI, Scientists from different centres of AICRP on Palms and scientists from different ICAR Institutes participated in the programme. Dr. H.P. Maheswarappa, Project Coordinator (Palms) gave a brief report of the AICRP. In the inaugural session Dr. N.P. Singh enumerated the problems in palms cultivation in Goa which include shortage of manpower, especially for harvesting of nuts and incidence of pests and diseases. Dr. S.K. Sharma highlighted the role of palms in national economy; both in past and in the present. He also suggested that post harvest technology and value addition are required to be strengthened to meet the growing demands and increase the income of the farmers. Dr. P.L. Saroj emphasized that INM is an important issue and recycling can reduce input requirement and improve the productivity. He suggested that location specific intercropping models needs to be developed to meet the local demands. Further, he highlighted the importance of mechanization in order to improve the efficiency of available labourers. Dr. A.S. Kumaraswamy opined that co-operation between SAUs and ICAR institutes is very much essential for the overall development. He suggested that basic research could be undertaken by the student during their higher education and provision of fellowships could be made to facilitate the work. Role of interdisciplinary research needs to be strengthened and research is also required to study the effect of global warming on incidence of pests and diseases and productivity of coconut. He also suggested that droughts are a growing concern and minimum water requirement of save the palms needs to be studied. Further, slow release fertilizers and crop specific nutrient mixtures needs to be developed and tested. He also requested to work out the minimum threshold income and a farmer should get per unit area to maintain a family through the farming. Mr. Manoj Kumar Sahoo appreciated the concept of AICRP as a platform for sharing ideas for carrying out research for overall development of the sector at ground level. He urged that consolidated efforts are required from all the stakeholders to reduce the problems of farmer’s suicide and bring back people in agriculture. He also requested to make agriculture as a profitable venture by development and adoption of improved technologies.
Four publications released from the AICRP centre during the inaugural session namely AICRP on Palms at a Glance, Prospects of mushroom cultivation in coconut garden in Odisha, RCRS, Bhatye Research at a glance( Marathi), Oil palm cultivation(Marathi) from Mulde centre. There were six technical sessions held under the charirmanship of experts like Dr. A.S. Kumaraswamy, Dr. C.A. Viraktamath, Emeritus Scientist, UAS, Bengaluru, Dr. P. Chowdappa, Director, ICAR-CPCRI. Following technical sessions were held during the annual group meeting of AICRP on palms.
Technical Session 1: Action Taken Report
Technical Session 2: Variety Release Proposals
Technical Session 3: Genetic Resources and Crop Improvement
Technical Session 4: Crop Production
Technical Session 5: Disease Management
Technical Session 6: Insect Pest Management
Technical Session 7: Post Harvest Technology in palmyrah and TOT
Technical Session 8: Plenary session
Recommendations
During various sessions, work done during 2014-15 and programmes for 2015-16 were discussed and approved
The plenary session was held on 28th May 2015 under the chairmanship of Dr. N.K. Krishna Kumar, DDG (Hort. Sci.), ICAR, New Delhi and Dr. P. Chowdappa, Director, ICAR-CPCRI and Dr. P. Kalidas, Actg. Director, IIOPR, Pedavegi were present on the occasions. Recommendations from the various projects were made for the benefit of the farming community. In his chairman’s remarks, DDG stated that, AICRP work should be strength through and Multi location trails(MLT) for variety release or any development of technology. He also emphasized that, studies on micronutrient has to be exploited to a maximum level, like application of sulphur (coconut) increase the quality of oil, evaluation of coconut genotypes for coconut fenny. Technology for Tender coconut tetra packing is needed so as to improve the shelf life of the tender water and improve the quality same. In the forth coming AICRP group meetings, the best recommendation will be printed in T shirt. AICRP centre, Mulde (Oil palm) was honoured with best performance centre for the year 2014-15. Dr. H.P. Maheswarappa, PC (Palms) proposed the vote of thanks.
