ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Sugarcane Zonal Breeders and Plant Pathologists Meet-2020

The Zonal Breeders and Plant Pathologists Meet-2020 has been organized at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) on January 10, 2020. Development of a sugarcane variety takes about 10-12 years. In order to reduce this duration, at least by one year and to decide technical programme before commencement of planting season in the north-west, north-central, north-east and east coast zones, the Breeders’ and Plant Pathologists Meet was held under the chairmanship of ADG (CC). The improved genotypes in IVT were screened for promotion to AVT, after review of performance at different centers.

The opening and technical sessions were chaired by Dr. R.K. Singh, ADG (CC), ICAR, New Delhi. At the outset, Dr. S.K. Shukla, Principal Scientist represented the PC(S) and welcomed the Chairman Dr R K Singh, ADG (CC), Chief Guest Dr S R Chaudhari, Hon’ble VC, NAU, Navsari and all the participants and gave introductory remarks. He urged the researchers to comply with the recommendations of the Group Meeting and briefed about the importance of developing location specific and improved varietal base to meet out the emerging demand of sugarcane as raw material under changing climatic scenario of different sugarcane growing zones.

Dr Bakshi Ram, Director ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore and PI Crop Improvement gave an overview of the Breeders and Plant Pathologists Meet. The relevance of reducing the duration in varietal development programme and methodology involving the screening of sugarcane genotypes for advanced varietal trials was highlighted. The Chief Guest Dr S R Chaudhari, Vice Chancellor, Navsari Agricultural University while delivering inaugural address, mentioned the contribution of the NAU, Navsari in increasing the sugarcane, fruits, milk and cotton production in the region.

The participating Breeders working on sugarcane at various centers of North West Zone, North Central & East Zone and East Coast Zones presented the progress of IVT experiments. After critical review and deliberations, technical programme for the concerned zones was finalized by selecting the outperforming clones. The Meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair by Dr S K Shukla.