Successful Conclusion of National Conference on Climate Smart Disease Management at Bihar Agricultural University

Bhagalpur: Bihar Agricultural University in Sabour hosted the National Conference on “Climate Smart Disease Management for Sustainable Plant Health” (CSDM-2024) from July 10-12. The event, guided by the Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh, culminated with a closing ceremony on Friday at 3pm in the university’s main auditorium.

The ceremony was chaired by Dean of Agriculture Dr. A.K. Sah, with dignitaries including University Director of Research Dr. A.I.K. Singh, Director of Seeds and Crops Dr. Fiza Ahmed, Professor Dr. J.P. Roy from the Department of Plant Diseases at Banaras Hindu University, and Director of Student Welfare and Organizing Secretary Dr. J.N. Srivastava present.

Dr. Srivastava, the Organizing Secretary, presented a comprehensive report of the three-day conference, highlighting the receipt of 133 abstracts and the delivery of 114 presentations by participants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and other states. He expressed gratitude to Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh for his unwavering support, which was pivotal in the conference’s success.

In his address, Director of Research Dr. A.K. Singh urged out-of-state delegates to provide feedback to enhance future BAU conferences. He praised the delegates’ active participation and acknowledged the constant encouragement from Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh.

Professor J.P. Roy thanked the organizing team for their exceptional hospitality and commended both the delegates and the organizing team for their efforts. His address was followed by the distribution of prizes for various poster sessions.

Dr. Fiza Ahmed, Director of Seeds and Crops, highlighted the significant role of Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh in fostering an improved academic and research environment at the university through regular conferences. He also praised the young researchers for their relevant contributions to contemporary agricultural needs.

During the program, prizes for various oral presentation sessions were awarded, with first, second, and third prizes distributed in each session. A total of 60 awards were given to participants across various categories. Dr. A.K. Sah, in his closing address, appreciated the innovative ideas presented and emphasized the importance of plant health in agriculture, calling for creative efforts in plant disease management. He also thanked Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh for his valuable guidance and the organizing team for their successful execution of the conference.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Chanda Kushwaha. Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh directed that proposals from the conference, such as the use of drones and artificial intelligence in plant disease management, the adoption of holistic integrated systems for disease management, and the use of prescribed quantities of chemicals in agriculture, would be forwarded for action.