ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi celebrated its 29th foundation day on 28th September 2019. Chief Guest Honorable Professor Arvind Kumar, Vice-chancellor Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. Guest of Honor Dr Mangala Rai, Ex- Director General ICAR & Secretary DARE; Dr Gautam Kalloo, Ex-DDG (Horticulture) ICAR; Dr Ramesh Chand, Director, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU; Dr. Arvind Kumar, Director, South Asia Regional Center, International Rice Research Institute, Varanasi and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.
Chief Guest Prof Arvind Kumar said that India has attained self-dependency in the area of food production, but for securing nutritional and livelihood security production of value added vegetables will be playing an important role. Today horticultural crops production is higher compared with food crops. It will help in the fight for achieving the nutritional security. He appreciated the improved varieties and technologies developed by the institute.
Dr. Mangala Rai emphasized on sustainable agriculture for vegetable farmers by maintaining soil health and water management practices in the present era of climate change. He asked the scientists to develop the technologies for solving the problems associated with vegetable processing, value addition, and storage. Founder director of the institute Dr. Gautam Kalloo elaborated in details the interesting stories linked with the establishment of the Indian institute of vegetable research, and said that because of its hard efforts institute has achieved a new height in the area of vegetable research. Dr. Arvind Kumar, Director, IRRI South Asia Regional Center appreciated the scientist of institute for commendable research. Dr. Ramesh Chand cautioned the farmers to remain alert with the misconceptions associated with organic farming, and emphasized to grow the value added vegetables.
On this occasion Dr. Jagdish Singh, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research welcomed the guests, and elaborated on research achievements of the institute since its inception. He also elaborated on the benefits; farmers are getting by scientific research and different extension programs like Mera Gao Mera Gaurav, SC/ST sub project and Farmers’ first. In his address he said that till now institute has developed more than 100 varieties and hybrids of different vegetable crops, which are highly popular among the farmers. Among the developing farmers associated with the institute, Shri Om Prakash Duby and Shri Rameshwar elaborated their success stories on vegetable production.
On this occasion among the scientific staff Dr Sudheer Singh, Principal Scientist (Crop Production); for agriculture extension Dr Rajneesh Srivastava, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Deoria); among technical staff Shri Ashok Singh, among administrative staff Shri Uday Narayan Tewari, and among supporting staff Shri Kamlesh were decorated with letter of appreciation for their laudable works.
In this series three innovative farmers Ananda Kumar Patel, Mannu Yadav, and Shitala Devi were also adorned with the letter of appreciation. About 400 hundred farmers were also present