3rd National level group discussion of ICAR-AICRP on fruits

Ludhiana, March 8, 2016: The inaugural function of 3rd National level group discussion of ICAR-AICRP on fruits (3rd to 6th March 2016) was held at Pal Auditorium, PAU. More than 45 centers from all over the country and about 200 horticultural scientists participated in the group discussion.

The Chief Guest Dr N.K. Krishna Kumar, DDG Horticultural Science, ICAR, New Delhi in his speech emphasized the need to control post harvest losses in fruits to increase profits as well as focus on virus free planting material propagated under protected conditions to avoid the spread of various pathogens. He also highlighted the need for development of complete package of practices for organic cultivation of the fruits.

While chairing the event at the inaugural session, Dr B.S. Dhillon, Vice chancellor, PAU, highlighted the importance of horticulture in employment generation and poverty alleviation in the country. He stressed on the need to expand the area under different maturity group-citrus fruits like Daisy and sweet oranges, as well as potential fruit crops like guava to realize better returns for fruit growers. He also spoke about good scope for grape wine sector under Punjab conditions.

Guest of honour and Project Coordinator, Dr Prakash Patil, read the achievements made by scientists. Mr. Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Punjab emphasized on the key points for achieving diversification in Punjab.

Earlier, Dr. Balwinder Singh, Director of Research welcomed the dignitaries and the delegates and informed that the increase in horticultural production was more than grain production in India which is a matter of pride for horticultural scientists.

Books on fruit production and a crop calendar were also released on this occasion.