Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research Celebrated its 69th Foundation Day
ICAR-Indian Institute Sugarcane Research (IISR), Lucknow celebrated its 69th Foundation Day on February 16, 2020 which marks the successful journey of 68th glorious years of sugarcane research since the establishment of the Institute in the year 1952. Prof. Archana Shukla, Director, IIM, Lucknow was the Chief Guest on the occasion. While the programme was presided by Dr. Sushil Solomon, Ex. Vice Chancellor, CSAUA&T, Kanpur. Prof. Archana Shukla congratulated IISR for its outstanding contributions which has culminated in highest ever sugarcane and sugar production and applauded the IISR partnership with industries for commercialization of the technology. She also delivered foundation day lecture on “Management issues of research organizations with special reference to team spirit and leadership”.
Dr. A.D. Pathak, Director, ICAR-IISR delivered the welcome address and highlighted the achievements made during the last year. Dr. Pathak informed that the two varieties of sugarcane viz., CoLk 12207 and CoLk 12209 developed by the Institute have been released during last year. Under outreach programme of the Institute, seed production technology, intercropping and ratoon management technique were bring under adoption in more than 15,500 hectares area which accrues to additional profit of Rs. 190 crores in one single year to the farmers. Presiding over the function, Dr. Sushil Solomon, Ex. VC, CSAUA&T, Kanpur highlighted the need to address the issues of varietal planning, ethanol blending with petrol, more economic and diversified uses of bagasse, intercropping for doubling the farmers income, taking breeder seed production programme in a big way in other states of the country also.
On this occasion, The Best Scientist Award was conferred to Dr. A.K. Sah, Principal Scientist, Extension and Training, while Dr. Lalan Sharma was honoured with the Best Young Scientist Award. 14 more employees of the Institute were honoured with the Award in various categories. The best team award was conferred to SWAPAM Lab. Three innovative farmers viz., Sh. C.S. Tiwari of Narsinghpur (M.P.), Sh. Awadhesh Kumar Verma of Sitapur and Shri Mukesh Kumar of Lucknow (U.P.) were also honoured with Innovative Farmer Awards. Publications of the institute were also released by the chief guest in the inaugural function. Dr. T.K. Srivastava, Principal Scientist also delivered a talk on “Conservation of water resources in climate change perspective” during Open Platform on Water Conservation. The sugarcane seed of improved variety of sugarcane viz., CoLk11206 was also distributed to participating sugarcane farmers. Dr. D.R. Malaviya, Head, Division of Crop Improvement proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was conducted by Dr. Anita Sawnani. A Kisan Goshthi and exhibition was also organized on this occasion which was attended by large number of innovative farmers of Lucknow and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh.