Reducing the cost of Production and post harvest losses in the Onion and Garlic, an all India Network Research Project on these two at Punjab Agriculture University, a meeting was organized stressing the development of hybrid onion and organic farming with genetic resource management.
ICAR-Directorate of Onion & Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar, Pune organized the 9th Annual Group meeting of All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic at Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana.
Dr. R. S. Sidhu, Registrar, PAU, Ludhiana, emphasized to increase the onion export in a global market by reducing its cost of production and post-harvest losses while addressing the inaugural session. Dr. G. Kalloo, Ex-Vice Chancellor, JNKVV, Jabalpur and Ex-DDG, Horticulture & Crop Science, stressed on development of onion hybrid, organic farming, Kharif production technology and Genetic resource management.
Dr. N. S. Bains, Director Research, PAU, Ludhiana welcomed all the delegates and briefed on the research activities at PAU, Ludhiana.
Dr. K. E. Lawande, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli and Ex-Director, ICAR-DOGR, Pune suggested concentrating on export, storage, and processing. Dr. T. Janakiram, ADG (Horticulture Science) emphasized promoting onion and garlic production in NEH and non-traditional areas also.
The inaugural session was attended by delegates from various parts of the country including Dr. R. P. Gupta, Ex-Director, NHRDF, New Delhi and Dr. R. D. Gautam, Ex. Professor and Head Entomology, IARI, New Delhi. Farmers, students, and other faculty members were also present.
A cash prize of RS 51000/- along with memento was handed over by Dr. G. Kalloo. The best network center award was announced by Dr. Major Singh for outstanding contribution to PAU, Ludhiana, which was given by Dr. G. Kalloo to Dr. A. S. Dhatt, Head, and Vegetable Science.
Seven publications viz., AINRPOG Annual Report, Proceedings of Brainstorming on Export, Mechanization, Thrips management in onion-garlic and the first issue of Journal of Allium Research and open access website were released by Dr. T. Janakiram. NHRDF Award 2017 for outstanding contribution for promotion of onion and garlic to the best scientist was awarded to Dr. Vijay Mahajan, Principal Scientist, ICAR-DOGR, Pune and Nodal Officier, AINRPOG, New Delhi.
