The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research, an institution dedicated to coordinating research and extension education programmes celebrated its 35th Foundation Day at its campus located in Indore.
The programme was graced by the participation of well-known research scientists and policy makers of national repute which included Dr Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), Dr Sanjeev Gupta, Assistant Director General (Oilseeds and Pulses), ICAR, New Delhi, SK Sharma, (Former Vice Chancellor, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Palampur and Chairman, Research Advisory Committee of ICAR-IISR who attended the programme on virtual mode. R.R. Hanchinal, Ex Chairman, Plant Variety Protection and Farmers Right Act (PPVFRA) and Ex-Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad presided over the function.
DN Pathak, Executive Director, Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) was the special invitee. More than 100 researchers belonging to different centers of All India Coordinated Research Project on Soybean spread across the country, institute staff, retired employees and selected progressive farmers from Madhya Pradesh attended the event.
Nita Khandekar, Director welcomed the dignitaries and guest and presented the achievements of the institute. She highlighted that the institute for the first time has successfully notified 27 improved soybean varieties which is a record for soybean.
Out of these, nine soybean varieties having characteristics of short maturity period, high yield, specialty soybean, resistance to biotic and abiotic factors like NRC 128, NRC 130, NRC 132, NRC 136, NRC 138, NRC 142, NRC 147, NRCSL1, MACSNRC-1667 have been developed by ICAR-IISR.
The special guests Sanjeev Gupta and D N Pathak expressed their satisfaction about the contribution made by the IISR scientists in the development of technologies as well as varieties which would help in mitigating the adverse impact of aberrant weather conditions currently experienced by the soybean growers.