ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi organized Virtual Training Programme on “Management and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources” during 1-21 February 2023

ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi along with Human Resource Management Unit, ICAR, New Delhi organized a 21 days’ training on “Management and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources” during 1-21 February 2023 in virtual mode. The objective of the training was to apprise and update participants about different aspects of PGR management, such as germplasm exploration and collection, plant quarantine, germplasm conservation, characterization, evaluation and utilization, genomics, PGR informatics, national and international policies governing PGR, etc.

The participants were also briefed about the ongoing research and service efforts undertaken by ICAR-NBPGR on PGR management. The training was organized by Dr GP Singh (Course Director) and Dr RK Gautam, Dr KS Hooda and Dr Jyoti Kumari (Course Coordinators). The Course Convenors were Dr Kuldeep Tripathi and Dr Subhash Chander while Dr Ravi K Pamarthi and Dr Mamta Singh were Course Co-Convenors.

The training was inaugurated on 1.02.23 (Hybrid mode) by Dr RC Agrawal, DDG (Education), ICAR in the presence of Dr DK Yadava, ADG (Seeds), ICAR and Dr GP Singh, Director, ICAR-NBPGR. A total of 84 early career researchers from different ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, other government institutions, ICARDA-FLRP, India and private universities benefited from the training. Dr RK Gautam, Head, Division of Germplasm Evaluation presented welcome address and brief about training. Dr GP Singh highlighted the activities and mandate of ICAR-NBPGR. Dr Yadava briefed participants about the future use of PGRs and crop wild relatives in national crop breeding programmes. Dr Agrawal congratulated ICAR-NBPGR for organizing training on PGR, an important subject in the era of climate change. Dr KS Hooda presented vote of thanks.

An interaction programme was also organized on 15.02.23 with Padma Bhushan ‘Dr RS Paroda’ , former Director General, ICAR and Chairman, TAAS wherein trainees interacted with Dr Paroda and asked strategies to be adopted for accelerating germplasm utilization in crop breeding programmes. Dr Paroda acknowledged the contributions of CGIAR and NBPGR genebanks to meet the challenges of food security globally and suggested NBPGR to mine complete set of germplasm collection in mission mode for trait discovery and utilization.

The entire course comprised of 73 invited lectures including 15 practical classes covering all core activities of PGR management starting from germplasm collection to characterization, evaluation, conservation, exchange and utilization. A total of 81 resource persons including external experts: Dr.Shiv Kumar Agrawal from ICARDA; Dr. A K Joshi, CIMMYT; Dr. H D Upadhyaya, Ex-Genebank Head, ICRISAT; Dr.JC Rana, Alliance of BI and CIAT; Dr.PV Varaprasad, Kansas State University; Dr. C. Viswanathan, Joint Director (Research), ICAR-IARI, and experts from ICAR-NBPGR: Dr. GP Singh, Dr RK Gautam, Dr KC Bhat, Dr MC Yadav, Dr.Kavita Gupta, Dr. Vandana Tyagi, Dr. Sunil Archak, Dr Anjali Kak, and Dr Sandhya Gupta have delivered lectures in respective areas of expertise.

The valedictory session was graced by the Chief Guest, Dr TR Sharma, Hon’ble Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR. Dr RK Gautam presented welcome address and Dr Jyoti Kumari presented overview details of the conducted training programme. The training manual was released by the Chief Guest. Dr GP Singh thanked DDG (Crop Science) for sparing his valuable time for benefitting and blessing the trainees. Dr Sharma appreciated the efforts made by ICAR-NBPGR for PGR services to the nation. Some of participants gave feedback on the overall course content and management of the training. The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates to the trainees. Dr KS Hooda, HRD Nodal Officer presented vote of thanks.