Three-Day Palm Research Symposium at Bihar Agricultural University Concludes with New Research Initiatives

Chirag Gupta

Bhagalpur: The three-day program at Bihar Agricultural University brought together 85 scientists from various ICAR institutes across 11 states to discuss advancements in palm research, focusing on crops such as coconut, arecanut, oil palm, and cocoa. The event highlighted the importance of introducing new research programs and cultivating new varieties suitable for local environments.

A significant discussion was held on establishing a new research center at the Purnia unit of the university. Additionally, there was a proposal to introduce new coconut varieties in Sabour to assess their adaptability and promote the cultivation of various palm products.

The Clean Plant Program also featured prominently, with cocoa plants slated for evaluation at different palm centers, and high-quality coconut varieties from CPCRI Kasargod set to undergo testing in Sabour. This initiative aims to enhance the quality and variety of palm crops in the region.

The event concluded with the 33rd Annual Meeting of the ICAR All India Coordinated Project Palm. The final session, led by the Vice Chancellor, included the planting of 25 saplings under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” program, and the scientists expressed their admiration for the university’s state-of-the-art laboratories, model classrooms, conference rooms, and other facilities, including the Media Center, Tissue Culture Lab, and Roof Top Garden.