ICAR-NAIP Interaction Meet with Scientists Trained Abroad in Frontier Areas of Agricultural Sciences Inaugurated

Proactive Engagement of Young Agricultural Scientists Needed-Ayyappan

New Delhi, 28 November, 2011

Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) urged young scientists to proactively engage themselves in framing new vision for ICAR so that India stays globally competitive in strategic areas of agricultural sciences. He was inaugurating ICAR-NAIP Interaction Meet with Scientists Trained Abroad in Frontier Areas of Agricultural Sciences at NASC Complex, New Delhi.

Scientists trained abroad should come up with new ideas. They can share their ideas and experiences within the institution, among the institutions, within divisions and with other stakeholders. This will bring a synergy within the system and create vast creative human resource’, he added. Through his presentation, Dr Ayyappan elaborated the approaches adopted by the ICAR for overcoming new and emerging challenges before Indian agriculture. Dr Ayyappan released notable publications on this occasion.

Earlier, while welcoming participants and guests, Dr Bangali Baboo, National Director, National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) emphasized that trained scientists may be utilized as resource persons for accelerating growth and development in National Agricultural Research System. Referring Learning and Capacity Building Programme (L & CB) of NAIP, he mentioned, ‘It’s a largest capacity building programme carried out in NARS. Expertise gained by trained scientists can play a vital role for poverty alleviation and providing solutions for farmer’s problems’.

Dr N H Rao, Director, National Academy of Agricultural Research Management and CPI, L&CB highlighted the main features and achievements of Programme.

Technical Sessions on Biotechnology, Social Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics, Biosecurity & Stem Cells, Natural Resource Management and Intellectual Property Rights are scheduled for presentation and deliberations during the Interaction Meet.
To keep abreast the scientists of NARS of the country, with the global advancement being made in the frontier areas of Agricultural Sciences, considerable attention has been given in the NAIP on International Trainings of scientists in the State-of-the-Art laboratories of the world. A careful selection of scientists was made to develop a core group of Human Resources for the research in identified areas. Till today, International Trainings have been sanctioned to 347 scientists.
Deputy Director Generals, Senior officials of ICAR and trained scientists are participating in the 3-day Interaction Meet.

(Source: NAIP Sub-Project on Mass Media Mobilization, DKMA)