ICRISAT-ABI and TNAU develop action plan to tap domestic and global jasmine markets
T
he second consultative meeting on ‘Madurai Malli’ Growers Development was held at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai on 23 August. Attended by jasmine growers and university experts, floriculture officials, and ABIICRISAT’s SM Karuppanchetty and Siva Kumar, an action plan was developed to address issues and concerns, from production to export, in tapping domestic and global jasmine markets. To implement the action plan, a special incubator and market development council will be set up by the Agricultural College and Research Institute, along with producers/companies, within the Mattuthavani flower market and the jasmine growing areas with support from the District Administration. GK Arun Sundar Dayalan, Additional Collector, Madurai district, attended the meeting and expressed support to the
GK Arun Sundar Dayalan, Additional Collector, Madurai district (3rd from left) and SM Karuppanchetty at the meeting.
initiative. An allocation of Rs 75 lakh (US$133868) has been proposed, of which Rs 30 lakh (US$53547) would come from the district administration under the Collector’s Innovation Fund. g
HC Sharma re-elected president of International Congress of Entomology
D
r HC Sharma (Principal Scientist, Entomology), who was elected President of the Council of International Congress of Entomology in July 2008, was re-elected to the same position during the 24th International Congress of Entomology (ICE2012) held on 19-25 August in Deagu, South Korea. He, along with the other executive members, will serve as office bearers of ICE until the next Congress to be held in 2016 by the Entomological Society of America. Over 2,500 delegates from 97 countries participated in the ICE2012. Addressing the participants of the Congress, Dr Sharma highlighted the need to assess the usefulness of genetically engineered organisms in agriculture and industry and their biosafety to the environment; understand the effects of climate change on biodiversity, geographic distribution, pest outbreaks, and food security; and address issues related to invasive species, bio-security, quarantine, and trade.
A section of the audience at the Congress. Inset: HC Sharma delivers his address.
Dr Sharma also gave the inaugural address at the International Symposium on Insect Bio-Industry: Achievements and Challenges on 18-19 July in Yecheon, Korea. g
First-aid training course held at ICRISAT ICRISAT organized a First-Aid Training Course for 32 staff members on 30-31 August. In his opening address, Director General William Dar stressed the importance of first aid in day-to-day life and expressed appreciation to have a batch of
qualified First Aiders at the campus. Drs MV Sudhakar and Pranay Kumar from the St John’s Ambulance Association conducted the training course, while Dr CN Reddy (Head, Medical Services) organized and supervised the activity. g ICRISAT Happenings 7 September 2012/1535
3