Agartala, January 22, 2025: The Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS), the world’s third-largest society of plant pathologists, organized a National Conference titled “Emerging Issues and Sustainable Strategies in Plant Health Management: A Global Perspective” from January 19 to 21, 2025. The event took place at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra, and was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
The inauguration was graced by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, along with several other esteemed dignitaries.
The IPS, established in 1947 by Dr. B.B. Mundkur at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, is a leading global organization in the field of plant pathology. The society continues to contribute significantly to sustainable agricultural practices and plant health management strategies worldwide.
Two agricultural scientists from Tripura were recognized for their exceptional contributions to plant pathology. Dr. Durga Prasad Awasthi, Assistant Professor (Plant Pathology) at the College of Agriculture, Tripura, and Dr. Utpal Dey, Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sepahijala, received the prestigious “Scroll of Honour.”
The awards were presented in the august presence of distinguished international and national experts including- Dr. Krishna V. Subbarao, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA; Dr. Hanu R. Pappu, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA; Dr. Dilip Kumar Ghosh, Director, ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur; and Dr. Kajal Kumar Biswas, Secretary of IPS and Principal Scientist at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
In a related effort, the IPS organized the IPS North-Eastern Zonal Meet & National Conference on September 26-27, 2024, at the College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura. The event focused on climate-resilient agriculture and plant health management strategies and saw participation from over 180 delegates, furthering the society’s mission of fostering innovation and collaboration in plant health management.
Gadkari, in his inaugural address, emphasized the critical role of plant health in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. “India’s agricultural success hinges on innovative solutions and collective efforts to combat emerging plant health challenges,” he said.
The conference provided a platform for knowledge exchange, with experts deliberating on cutting-edge research and sustainable strategies to address global plant health concerns.
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