CSIR-CIMAP Celebrates Foundation Day
Lucknow, April 5 (TNA) CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) celebrated its Foundation Day on Friday at Utsav Hall, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. On this occasion, Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director, CSIR-NBRI was the chief guest, Dr. Radha Rangarajan, Director, CSIR-CDRI was the guest of honor and Dr. Gopaljee Jha, Scientist-V, NIPGR was the special guest.
Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, welcomed the Chief Guest in his welcome address, he apprised the audience about the contribution of the Institute in last 6 decades. He also mentioned the important achievements of the Institute, in particular, the CSIR – Aroma Mission. In the last 65 years CSIR-CIMAP has always been in the fore front and has played a vital role in services towards the nation building. CSIR-CIMAP contribution has made India a leading essential oil exporter in methanol mint and lemongrass. CSIR-CIMAP has played a prominent role in serving the society, industry.
Dr. Gopaljee Jha, Scientist-V, NIPGR, delivered the CSIR-CIMAP Foundation Day Lecture on 'Exploiting fungus eating bacterium & its molecular secrets for sustainable agriculture'. He delivered his lecture on the Rice Sheath Blight fungal disease affecting rice crop and the how can microbes like fungus can be exploited to prevent the rice crop from being damaged by this disease, which would help in devising strategies for the crop protection.
Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasany, applauded the efforts of CSIR-CIMAP, which has now been acknowledged at global level and also expressed appreciation for the progress made over the last decades by the institute. In his talk, he highlighted the importance of secondary metabolites as a plant defence mechanism for sustainable agriculture. Dr. Radha Rangarajan, Director, CSIR-CDRI, expressed her joy to be in CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, and praised the efforts of instutute.
Two key memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were exchanged on the occasion of CSIR- CSIR-CIMAP Foundation Day. One with Sajhi Rekha Welfare Group in Lucknow for making of incense sticks & fragrant cones. Second one with Nutriplanet Foods Pt. Ltd. , Bangalore for the utilization of TBIC facilities for the manufacturing of age herbal formulation. Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CMAP, honoured the guests with shawl, memento, and product kit of CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow.
Also, on this occasion Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director, CSIR-NBRI inaugurated a high end facility ‘Plant Growth Chamber for Plant Functional Genomics and Genome Editing’ in presence of Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP. This facility would help the researchers to conduct long term research and develop climate smart and high yielding varieties. About 300 scientists, research students and employees of the institute were also present in the program.