The Indore based ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research, known for development and promotion of improved soybean production technologies as well as seed varieties among the farmers of soybean growing States is celebrating its 34th Foundation Day on Friday at its main campus with the involvement of more than 250 researchers, officers, scholars and institute staff using virtual mode on zoom app.
This year, the institute has especially constituted a 'Prem Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Lecture’ in the name of its Founder Director, P.S. Bhatnagar who devoted his scientific career in establishment and nurturing this institute even after his superannuation till his last breath this year on October 5, 2020.
Accordingly, the First Ever P.S. Bhatnagar Memorial Lecture is organized which will be delivered by the Former DDG (CS) of ICAR and Agricultural Production Commissioner who is currently holding the post of Vice Chancellor of Sri Karan Narendra Agricultural University, Jobner (Rajasthan) Jeet Singh Sandhu, while the Chief Guest of the Foundation Day programme would be SK Sharma, Former Vice Chancellor of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Palampur who would deliver presidential address while S. K. Jha, Assistant Director General (Oilseed & Pulses), ICAR, New De;lhi would be acting as a special guest of the function.
During this programme, the institute is going to felicitate the retired staff of the institute who have contributed for the overall development of the soybean crop and the institute.
This will be followed by dedicating the lecture hall of the institute in the name of P.S. Bhatnagar Lecture Hall.
The institute is also going to release two major publications on this occasion i.e. Rajbhasha Patrika “ Soy Vritika” containing the articles, poems and thoughts of institute staff and their family members and also E-book: a compilation of 62Success Stories of Progressive Soybean Farmers from major Soybean Growing States of India out of which one farmer each from the states like Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh would be felicitated with the Progressive Soybean Farmer Award with the citation and memento.