ICAR Sikkim Centre Celebrates 40th Foundation Day
ICAR Sikkim Centre, Gangtok organised a day long programme to commemorate the 40th Foundation Day Celebration of the Centre on Tuesday, October 13th 2015 at ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok. The main theme of the program was ‘Technological Empowerment through Input Support System’. The Chief Guest Shri A.K. Shrivastava, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Sikkim inaugurated the program in the presence of Shri Khorlo Bhutia, Secretary, FSADD and HCCDD, Govt. of Sikkim, Shri Kuber Bhandari, Managing Director, SIMFED, Govt. of Sikkim and Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre. Apart from that officers from state line department, Dr. Yashoda Pradhan, Additional Director, Sikkim Organic Mission; Mrs. S.L. Dorjee, Director, SAMETI; Mrs. Asha Lama, Director, ATMA; Shri Naren Gautam, Joint Director, FSADD; Dr. Sunil Thorat, Officer on Special Duty, IBSD, Regional Centre, Gangtok; Dr. R.S. Tiwari, Former Professor, Vegetable Science, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar and many other dignitaries, officials from State Agriculture Department, Extension functionaries, Scientists, farmers and staff of ICAR Sikkim Centre were present.
In his inaugural address Shri A. K. Shrivastava, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Sikkim, congratulated the ICAR Sikkim Centre on its 40th Foundation Day Celebration. He lauded the efforts of ICAR Sikkim Centre for developing sustainable organic production technologies for the socio-economic upliftment of farmers of Sikkim. Chief Guest laid stress on sustainable development and judicious use of naturally available resources. He also emphasized on the Global Index of the particular organic commodity of Sikkim referring to the five main commercial crops viz., Large cardamom, Ginger, Buckwheat, Turmeric and Cymbidium which are sorted out by NITI AYOG, Govt, of India.
Shri Khorlo Bhutia, Secretary, FSADD and HCCDD, Govt. of Sikkim emphasized upon the need for greater role of ICAR Sikkim Centre for the development of animal husbandry, dairy and poultry sector in the state. He simultaneously appreciated for continuous efforts of ICAR Sikkim Centre and appreciated the efforts of Scientists of ICAR in organising such programme for the benefit of the farmers.
Addressing on the occasion, Shri Kuber Bhandari, Managing Director, SIMFED, Govt. of Sikkim stressed that the growers should take advantage of the recent technologies developed by the ICAR Sikkim Centre for increasing their production and to achieve the demand of organic produce.
Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Dr. R. K. Avasthe delivered the Foundation Day Key Lecture on “ICAR Technologies a Comprehensive View”. In his presentation, he briefed about the ongoing activities of ICAR Sikkim Centre, technologies and package of practices developed in the Centre and future strategies to help the farmers to increase the production in agriculture and livestock sectors. Moreover, he assured that ICAR will extend full help and cooperation to the farmers and officials of the State Agriculture Department to improve agriculture in the state.
Earlier, Dr. H. Kalita, Principal Scientist, ICAR Sikkim Centre welcomed the Chief Guest and other distinguished dignitaries present on the dias. He extended his warm welcome to the farmers of all the four districts of Sikkim representing the very remote parts of Sikkim to attend the programme.
On this occasion Chief Guest released ICAR Sikkim Centre Newsletter, eleven technical folders on No Till Pahenlo dal, No Till Rice, Soil Health Management, Organic Kiwifruit, Intensive Vegetable Production, Pest and Disease Management, Vegetable Nursery Management, Green Manures, Farmer’s Organisations, Dairy Farming and Scientific Goat Husbandry were released. Successful progressive farmers viz. Shri Purna Bahadur Kami from Salghari, South Sikkim; Ms. Lhakit Lepcha, Gnon, Lower Dzongu, North Sikkim; Shri Nim Tshering Lepcha, Lower Nandok, East Sikkim and Shri Karma Dichen Bhutia, Sajong, East Sikkim were felicitated for their outstanding contribution in vegetable production and motivation of farmers in the state. Inputs such as seeds of high yielding varieties, biofertilizers, biopesticides, mushroom’s spawn and vaccinated Vanaraja birds were also distributed to the progressive farmers of Sikkim.
The Foundation Day celebration programme was coordinated by Mr. Boniface Lepcha, Subject Matter Specialist and programme was ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist, ICAR Sikkim Centre. This was followed by Farmers-Scientists’ Interaction-cum-Experimental Field Visits where farmers were equipped with the research and development activities being carried out by the ICAR Sikkim Centre.
Chief Guest Shri A.K. Shrivastava,IAS,Chief Secretary,Govt. of Sikkim with the ICAR Sikkim Centre Staff and Progressive Farmers