Inspiring young scientists is necessary for agri-innovation : Dr. Arunava Pattanayak

Bureau, Odishabarta, 03.06.2024 : ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna organised a meeting under the Institute Innovation Cell to select Young Scientist Innovation Project(YSIP) for the Year 2024-25 on 03 June 2024. Dr. Arunava Pattanayak, former director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi,and ICAR- Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi AnusandhanSansthan(ICAR-VPKAS), Almora was the chief guest, Dr. Bikash Das, Director, ICAR – National Research Centre on Litchi was the jury member with one representative from ATARI Patna. In this meeting,young scientists (below 40 years age) of the institute came out with projects in frontier and challenging areas of agriculture like carbon farming, biofortification, sensor-based irrigation, agricultural metagenomics, conservation agriculture, etc., and presented their innovative ideas before the evaluation committee. The committee thoroughly evaluated the project of individual scientists and provided their valuable feedback and suggestions to enhance the quality of the project proposal. Dr Pattanayak along with the other committee members appreciated the effort of young scientists and suggested some of the projects to merge and make a mega project for external funding.Dr.Pattanayak appreciated the initiative of ICAR RCER Patna for commencing the innovative YSIP scheme which will benefit the young scientists of the institute to come up with cutting-edge ideas in agriculture besides making their ideas refined for external funding.Dr.Pattanayak also interacted with IARI-Hub Patna students and suggested that they must work hard to satisfy the self esteem besides inculcating a culture of innovation.During Interaction with scientist, Dr. Pattnayak emphasized on good collaboration with neighbouring scientific institutes and said that inclusion of teaching will improve skills and keep us updated. He further said that the main mantra for success is interdisciplinary research with farmers in the target.Dr. Bikash Das emphasized on sowing the seeds of innovation for future sustainability. Dr. Anup Das showed various institute achievements and activities. He emphasized that the Institute Innovation Cell’s goals are to foster intellectual curiosity, support creative ideas, and give young scientists a platform through their initiatives to see their ideas come to life. Meeting ended with a formal vote of thanks.