ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad participated in the Regional Workshop and Agrobiodiversity Exhibition

ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad participated in the “Regional Workshop and Agro-Biodiversity Exhibition”, jointly organized by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India and PJTSAU, Hyderabad on 27th January 2018 in the auditorium of PJTSAU, Hyderabad. Dr C Parthasarathi IAS, Hon’ble Principal Secretary and Agricultural Production Commissioner, Government of Telangana acted as the Chief Guest and inaugurated the Agro-biodiversity exhibition. Around 400 farmers from South Indian states viz., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana participated in the programme and visited the ICAR-NBPGR stall organized in the exhibition.

ICAR-NBPGR Regional station showcased crop diversity in cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, wild species and medicinal plants. NBPGR facilitated registration of farmer varieties from Telanagana and Andhra Pradesh [Vayunowka jonna, Pelala jonna (Sorghum) and Erramachha kandhi (Pigeonpea)] and the registered seed samples were kept in the display. Guided tour for farmers to the NBPGR stall had been organized by the scientific and technical staff of the station. Dignitaries Dr. C Parthasarathi, Principal Secretary Government of Andhra Pradesh, Dr B. Rajender, Chairperson, PPV&FRA & Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, Dr V. Praveen Rao, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, PJTSAU, Dr RC Agrawal, Registrar General, PPVFRA, Director of Research and directors of local ICAR institutes visited NBPGR Stall and appreciated the array of crop diversity and posters displayed in the stall. The dignitaries from PPV&FRA emphasized for more number of registrations from southern states, especially Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Pamphlets, brochures and other publication materials were distributed to the farmers for creating awareness on PGR diversity and its conservation. Dr N Sivaraj, Principal Scientist delivered a talk on “Agrobiodiversity of South India with special reference to farmers’ varieties” in the Techncial session of the regional workshop.