NU SASRD gets All India Coordinated Research Project Centre

Dimapur, February 9 (MExN): Department of Horticulture, SASRD, Nagaland University has got a new centre of ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on vegetable crops.   The centre was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, Prof. B.K Konwar on February 8 in the presence of Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean SASRD, Head Department of Horticulture, Principle Scientists from Research Institute of Citrus, Nagpur and NRCM, Jharnapani, Head of Departments and faculties of SASRD, students of horticulture, B.Voc and EL (Experiential Learning) students.  

Prof. B.K Konwar, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, in his inaugural address congratulated the Department on this achievement by bringing a Regular Centre to the University. He encouraged the Centre and the Department to take up relevant research and bring out suitable technologies for the farmers that can enhance the economic condition of the vegetable growers. He said he wished to see the Department and the Centre moving ahead and progressing with new hands joining the centre and the Department.   The Pro Vice Chancellor of SASRD, Prof. N.S Jamir expressed happiness on the achievement of the Department of having this Centre and emphasized on carrying out research suitable for hilly terrain and also mentioned that the Department has always been taking lots of initiatives which he expects that the Department continues in the future as well.   Dean, SASRD, Prof. M. Aleminla Ao mentioned that having such Regular Centre has helped in the employment opportunities for our own students and is optimistic that such Centres may also come up in other departments as well. She congratulated the Department of Horticulture for doing good works, thus bringing this Centre to the School.   During this programme, 20 selected Vegetable Growers, mostly ladies, were given tools and equipments under TSP (Tribal Sub Plan)-AICRP (VC). One vegetable grower gave a brief account of the success story through the initiative of the TSP Programme.   The programme was chaired by Prof. Akali Sema, Head, Department of Horticulture, SASRD, NU who also gave the Welcome address. Invocation prayer was led by Ateinuo Kuotsu, lady farmer and a special number by Tekalemba and Imliakum. Dr. C.S Maiti, TSP incharge gave brief information on the programme and Vote of Thanks was proposed by Moakala Changkija, Assistant Agronomist, AICRP (VC), Department of Horticulture, SASRD, NU, Medziphema.   About the Centre This centre started as a voluntary centre in 2012 and based on its good performance, it is now upgraded as a Regular Centre. In India, there are 36 Regular Centres and 18 Voluntary centres in different Agro-climatic Zones of the country having various mandates for conservation, improvement and standardization of vegetable production.   According to Dr. SP Kanaujia who is the Project Incharge of the Centre, Nagaland Centre has been allotted with a mandate of carrying out 6 trials that includes Varietal Evaluation of Tomato, Cherry tomato, mustard and Pea and organic farming trials on Amaranth and Palak.   The new centre of ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on vegetable crops is with six sanctioned posts comprising of Scientists, Senior Technical Assistant and Field Assistant.