
NAGPUR, Dec 27: Director-general, Indian Council for Agricultural Research ICAR and Secretary, Union Department of Agriculture, Padmabhushan Dr R S Paroda paid a visit to the Central Institute for Cotton Research CICR, here on Friday.
During his visit Dr Paroda inaugurated the insectary and biocontrol laboratory and trainees hostel constructed newly in the CICR campus. Paroda also visited experimental fields and appreciated the quality of work out there. He was apprised of the activities of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, besides efforts on transgenic cotton, biological control of American boll worm and integrated resistance management.
Later while addressing scientists of CICR, Paroda exhorted them to work to attain national goals and make cotton the supreme commercial crop in the country. According to him performance and deliverance would be the watch words in future. He expressed happiness that the returns on investment in agricultural research were comparable to the best in the world.
Earlier, in hiswelcome address, CICR director Dr M S Kairon highlighted the salient achievements of the institute over the years. The insectary and biocontrol laboratory have been constructed at a cost of Rs 40 lakh and would provide infrastructure for mass production of parasites, predators and pathogens of biological control of insect pest in cotton-based cropping system.
The trainees hostel is built over 675 square metres at a cost of Rs 30 lakh.Paroda who has been conferred with Padmabhushan recently was felicitated by the CICR staff.