International Day for Biological Diversity and Fascination of Plants Day Celebrations at ICAR-NBPGR on May 22, 2019

The joint celebration for ‘International Day for Biological Diversity’ (May 22nd) and ‘The Fascination of Plants Day’ (May 18th) was organised at ICAR-NBPGR on the May 22, 2019. On this occasion, Prof. R.S. Tonk, Officer- in-Charge, VIP Nursing Home, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and PGIMER, New Delhi was invited as the Chief Guest and Dr. Manish Verma, Nutritionist delivered a talk on ‘the role of food diversification in our health and nutrition’. This year the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity was ‘Our Biodiversity: Our Food, Our Health’. The fifth Fascination of Plants day was celebrated for the first time. In the remarks by the Director, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, emphasised on need for biodiversity conservation and its use for food diversification and ICAR-NBPGR to play a pivotal role. The celebrations for these two important global events were started with plantation of sapling by Director and Prof. Tonk in the ICAR-NBPGR campus. This was followed by an essay writing competition on the topic ‘Why Fascination towards Plants?’ A total of 15 participants representing the students and staff category expressed their views in Hindi as well as in English. In the category of students, the Ms. Anuradha (first prize), Ms. Kanika Sharma (second prize) and Ms. Shivangi Tyagi. (third prize), and among the staff members, Ms. Shephalika Amrapali (first prize), Dr. Pratibha Brahmi (second prize) and Mr. Satyapal Singh (third prize) were recognised with different awards. In the competition on ‘Display of Fascinating Live Plants’, out of a total of 28 entries on display of live plants nurtured by the contestants, the three most fascinating entries were awarded with prizes. The selected among the contestants were Sh. Lalu Rai (first prize) for Vernonia amygdalina (African bitter leaf tree) plant known for anti-diabetic plant for economical value; jointly by Dr. R.S. Rathi and Dr. V.S. Rana (second prize) for Eryngium foetidum (Manipuri coriander) used for edible greens and medicinal value and O/C ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Ranchi (third prize) for Saraca asoca (Sita ashok) an Indian native tree of medicinal value.

(Source:  Dr. Anjula Pandey, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi)