5th October 2024, Assam
ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids celebrated its 28th Foundation Day, today. The event featured a large-scale distribution of orchid planting materials and inputs under the NEH component programme, valued at more than 100 lakhs, benefiting 420 farmers in the region.
ICAR-NRCO has made significant contributions over the years, including the development of new orchid hybrids, the release of 25 new orchid hybrids very recently through SVRC, advanced production technologies, tailored orchid nutrient formulations, and the identification of bioactive compounds with nutraceutical and therapeutic potential. In its efforts to promote orchid cultivation, the Centre has established 37 playhouses on farmers’ fields and distributed 23,000 tissue-cultured orchid hybrid planting materials worth over 100 lakh, supported by collaborating institutes ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers, West Bengal, ICAR-National Institute For Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, under their NEH component as well as under SCSP & TSP component of ICAR-NRCO.
The Chief Guest, Jigme Dorjee Bhutia, Secretary (Agriculture), QRT Chairman; Dr H.P. Singh, Founder and Chairman, Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India (CHAI), & Former Deputy Director General (Horticulture), RAC Chairman; Dr V.A. Parthasarathy-Former Director, Project Coordinator & Emeritus Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Dr Sudhakar Pandey-Assistant Director General (Flower, Vegetable, Spice, and Medicinal Plant), Dr R. C. Bhattacharya, Director, ICAR-NIPB, and renowned Orchidologist Padma Shri Dr A.N. Rao, delivered insightful lectures on the progress and future of orchid research at the Centre.
Dr S.P. Das, Director, ICAR-NRCO, highlighted the recent development of 25 new hybrid orchids, registration of 4 genetic stocks by PGRC, development of customized orchid nutrient formulations, Orchid bio-walls, and value-added products from orchids.
The event also acknowledged various contributors to the orchid industry, by recognizing 10 Champion Orchid Growers from the region, orchid promoters, retired ICAR-NRCO employees, and outstanding scientists and other staff of ICAR-NRCO.
Additionally, the Center also released new publications and distributed planting materials and inputs to support the orchid farming community of Sikkim and Darjeeling. The 28th Foundation Day celebration underscored ICAR-NRCO’s pivotal role in advancing orchid research and promoting sustainable cultivation, reaffirming its commitment to supporting farmers and the orchid industry throughout India.
(Source: ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids, Sikkim)
Read more: https://icar.org.in/icar-nrc-orchids-celebrates-its-28th-foundation-day-and-kisan-diwas
