Training on “Post- entry Quarantine for Imported Planting Material of Horticultural Crops” was organized on 17 September, 2022 by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi

Training on “Post- entry Quarantine for Imported Planting Material of Horticultural Crops” was organized on 17th September, 2022 at ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi in virtual mode for the researchers from ICAR institutes viz., ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Srinagar, Central Institute of Arid Horticulture (CIAH), Bikaner, ICAR- Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR), Pedavegi. Main objective of the training was to provide guidance on post-entry quarantine requirements for imported planting material of horticultural crops by these three ICAR organizations and sensitize the participants about importance of quarantine for these crops.
The training was attended by 41 participants from various organizations such as ICAR-CITH, ICAR-CIAH, ICAR-IIOPR and Shere-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences &Technology of Kashmir. The plant quarantine officials of Regional Plant Quarantine Stations located across the country also attended the training programme.
The training was inaugurated by Dr. Vikramaditya Pandey, ADG (Horticulture Sciences I), ICAR. Inaugural session started with welcome address by Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director, ICAR-NBPGR, introduction of the training programme by Dr. V. Celia Chalam, Head, Division of Plant Quarantine (DPQ) and inaugural address by Dr. Vikramaditya Pandey, ADG (HS-I), ICAR in which he emphasized about development of ready reckoners of pests of crops being imported by above institutes.
The course curriculum included both lectures and practicals conducted through videos to give the trainees a good idea on the various aspects of quarantine and post-entry quarantine requirements for horticultural crops which are being imported. The lectures were delivered on ‘National Plant Quarantine System for Bulk Imports’ by Dr. S. Gnansambandan, Joint Director (PQ), DPPQS, Faridabad and ‘Post-entry Quarantine Facilities and Requirements for the Import of Horticultural Planting Material’ by Dr. V. Celia Chalam, Head, DPQ. Practicals on PEQ requirements for these crops growing were conducted by scientists of DPQ, ICAR-NBPGR viz., Dr. Kavita Gupta, (Principal Scientist), Dr. Jameel Akhtar, (Principal Scientist) Dr. Bharat H. Gawade, Senior Scientist and Dr. Pooja Kumari, Scientist through recorded videos. It was followed by remarks by Dr. O.C. Sharma, Director, ICAR-CITH, Srinagar, Dr. D. K. Samadia, Director, ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner and by Dr. R. K. Mathur, Director, ICAR-IIOPR, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Kavita Gupta, Principal Scientist, Division of Plant Quarantine.