The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ARS braces for golden jubilee celebrations

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Friday, Oct 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

ARS braces for golden jubilee celebrations

S. Harpal Singh

Celebrations at the research institute from October 19 to 21

National seminar on ‘Second Green Revolution-Necessity or Compulsion’ to be organised
Research on soyabean crop being done on the sprawling 62-acre campus of the institute

Repository of research: The administrative block of the Agriculture Research Station in Adilabad.

ADILABAD: Given the inherent dynamism of scientific research, the process of ageing seems to work in the reverse direction for research institutions that steadily become stronger as they gain in experience. Adilabad’s Agriculture Research Station (ARS) is one such institution that looks healthier even as it turned 50 this year.

Celebrations have been planned between October 19 and 21 for commemorating this milestone in the history of the ARS.

Befitting the occasion, the jamboree of a national seminar on ‘Second Green Revolution-Necessity or Compulsion’ will be organised during the three days that will see participation of at least 100 agriculture scientists.

The participants also include the think-tank in the field of agriculture at national level like the additional directors general of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

“From its humble beginning in 1958 when the ARS indulged in only ‘low profile research’, we are now able to create new genotypes of cotton. In fact, we have developed 200 cotton hybrids using the novel genetic pool in G.hirsutum,” observes Dr. T. Pradeep, principal scientist and Head of ARS.

“Of these 200, 50 crosses were tested vigorously. Two dozen of these 50 were found to be on a par with the Bt variety and eight others were superior to the latter,” he adds. Research on soyabean crop is also conducted at the sprawling 62 acre campus of the ARS at Ramnagar.

Among some of the prestigious projects that the ARS has undertaken is the recent one called harmonizing bio-diversity, conservation and agriculture intensification through integration of plant, animal and genetic resources for livelihood securities in fragile eco systems. This is a joint project, the partner being National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.

Explaining the relevance of second green revolution for a place like Adilabad, Dr. Pradeep says, “Adilabad is a repository for different varieties of medicinal plants besides the soil here being conducive for non traditional crops like jowar. Actually, jowar was a traditional crop here and due to expansion of area under commercial crops, cultivation of jowar became a non-traditional activity. Research in this area can still be relevant.”

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