Eight farmers of Saraidih village of Namkum were on Friday felicitated by Director General (DG) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) S Ayyappan on the occasion of 90th Foundation Day ceremony of Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums.
The farmers were felicitated for their extraordinary contribution in lac cultivation, fisheries and nursery plantation, a part of the project run by ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region at Palandu, Namkum. The ICAR has been running projects in different parts of the country to include to youth in the agricultural activities, claimed Ayyappan.
Talking about the significance of natural products the DG ICAR said people are inclined towards natural products as the natural gums and resins are a good alternative to many products. Incidentally, gawar, a veriety of gum, constitutes about 18 per cent of the total agricultural commodity exports from India.
Earlier, Director IINRG R Ramani said the institution has expanded its mandate and is making rapid strides in expanding it further. Ramani highlighted the achievements of the institution. Notably, a newly-built conference hall with a seating capacity of 250 persons was inaugurated on the occasion followed by book-release by the dignitaries present. The books- Bar-coding of Indian lac Insects, lac ke Shatru keet (Insects Enemy to lac), Vision 2050 of IINRG and Natural Resource Management for the Development of Horticulture, released by Agriculture Research Center Palandu- were released on the foundation day of the institute.
V-C of CUJ, DT Khating showered praise on the institute and promised to introduce a “gums and resins” in the University’s curriculum. Khating said he was not aware of the significance of gums and resins prior to his maiden visit to the IINRG campus at Namkum.
DC Ranchi VK Choubey, who shared the dais with other dignitaries, promised that the district administration would extend whole hearted support to lac cultivation.