The
President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has asked the agricultural
scientists to contribute their might to bring about a second green
revolution and make India a developed nation. The President was
Inaugurating the 2nd International Congress of Plant
Physiology here today. He asked the plant scientist to evolve
strategies to double the productivity of available land and develop
new varieties of seeds which need minimum water and give maximum
yield.
Speaking on the occasion
Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Ajit Singh called upon the
agricultural researchers to suggest solutions that best match
the multiple and often-conflicting development objectives. He
said that plant physiologist can contribute in several critical
areas like developing new varieties with higher yield potential,
a scientific agricultural intelligence system to compile information
on prospects of different commodities much before harvests, efficient
use of water, crops with greater tolerance to abiotic and biotic
stress and evolving alternate and non-traditional markets for
crop products. Shri Ajit Singh also stressed the need for developing
genetic and agronomic strategies to ensure that the quality of
food products is not only maintained but also enhanced.
The President Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also gave away Annual Awards on behalf of the
Indian Society for Plant Physiology (ISPP). The award for lifetime
achievement was given to noted agricultural scientist Dr. G.S.
Sirohi.
Main theme of the
Congress organized by the ISPP and the International Association
for Plant Physiology is ‘Sustainable Plant Productivity under
the changing environment’. The five day conference will cover
a wide range of topics through fourteen scientific sessions on
crop physiology, biotechnology, global climate change, flowering,
abiotic stress and the like. The Congress is being attended by
more than 800 Indian and about 60 foreign delegates from 15 countries.
