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.
