Dr. Vijay Singh Meena has been conferred with the prestigious Medal for Young Scientist 2022 of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi.
Dr. Meena is the project coordinator for the Climate Resilient Agriculture Program of the Bihar Government and has been associated with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), Pusa, Samastipur.
Dr. Meena has done excellent work in the field of natural resource management for sustainable agriculture production. He identified carbon management index as the key indicator to measure soil degradation in different agro ecosystems.
The medal was presented to Dr. Meena by Prof. Ahutosh Sharma, President of INSA. The Indian National Science Academy, established in January 1935, promotes science in India and harnesses scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity and national welfare. The National Institute of Sciences of India, now the Indian National Science Academy, was inaugurated on January 7, 1935 in Calcutta and functioned with its headquarters at the Asiatic Society of Bengal until 1951. It then shifted to Delhi.
Dr. Meena, upon receiving the award, said, “It is an honour for me to be recognized as a young scientist by the distinguished INSA. I have been receiving blessings and wishes from my family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers since my name was announced.”
Dr. Raj Kumar Jat, Senior Scientist and BISA, Pusa Incharge, said, “Dr. Meena has been associated with BISA, he is a promising scientist and has done remarkable work in the CRA Program of the Government of Bihar. He has shown great potential to be a leader in research. This award marks his dedication towards research and welfare of the nation. I wish him success and more accolades in the coming years.”
Dr. Dhillon (second from left) at BISA Research farm in Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
Dr. BS Dhillon, visited the BISA research farm and interacted with Senior Cropping System Agronomist and Station In-charge, Dr. Raj Kumar Jat and other scientists at the farm.
Dr. Dhillon took a tour of the farm and saw long-term trials, research trials with intercropping and mulching, and other trials. He looked very excited to see the innovative and sustainable agricultural practices being implemented at BISA.
The intercropping of maize and potato and potatoes grown with mulching method attracted his attention, he inquired about the process in detail and said beside farmers, universities should also inculcate this type of innovative technique.
During his visit, Dr. Dhillon praised the efforts of the scientists at BISA and applauded their dedication to research and development in the field of agriculture. He also highlighted the importance of such institutions in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and increasing crop productivity. He was impressed with BISA’s use of cutting-edge technology like drones for monitoring crop health and providing advisory.
While interacting with BISA’s young scientists, Dr. Reddy Rajesh and Dr. Arpit , Dr. Dhillon emphasized that increasing yield and stability in maize, as well as early maturity in wheat, should be prioritized in order to adapt to changing climate conditions.
Dr. Raj Kumar Jat said, “We are honored to have Dr. Dhillon visit our farm and interact with our scientists. His insights and guidance will greatly benefit our research and development efforts in the future.”
BISA, the international research institute established in October 2011 through a joint initiative between CIMMYT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is known for its research and development in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. The institute is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices and increasing crop productivity in the region.
This visit by Dr. Dhillon is a testament to the important work being done at BISA and the impact it is making in the field of agriculture.
Dr. Raj Kumar added that the visit of Dr. Dhillon to BISA was a valuable opportunity for the scientists to exchange new and innovative ideas and learn from his experience and expertise.
During his visit Dr. KK Singh, In-charge Regional Research Station ICAR-IARI, Pusa, Dr. KV Bhatt, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, Dr. JC Sekhar, Director, ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana, Dr SS Punia, CCS HAU, Hisar, Dr. (Ms) Chandiah R. Ballal, Former Director, ICAR-NBAIR, Bengaluru, Dr. SL Jat, ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana Dr. Avinash, Dr. Illathur Rajesh, Dr. Arpit Gaur, Dr.Debabrata Nath, Dr.Sunil, Dr. Kajod Mal beside other BISA staffs were present.
On January 18 and 19, 2023, a two-day mega workshop on the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) Program was held in Dwarka, New Delhi.
Around 90 members were participated in this program and benefited from it. During the workshop, the attendees discussed and learned about solar harvesting, carbon credit, crop residue management, climate resilient cultivars, millets and pulses in cropping systems, and maize drying and processing.
Delivering the keynote address Dr. Arun Kumar Joshi, MD, Borlaug Institute for South Asia said “under the guidance of the Honourable Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar the Climate Resilient Agriculture program has touched the new heights. If more farmers embrace the CRA technology the agricultural growth will be exponential in near future in a sustainable manner.”
He also emphasised the role of collaborating institutions and scientists and said that “because of their hard work including the staff of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, farmers are now more aware about climate resilient agriculture and how they can reduce the risk and get more profit in lesser cost. Constant monitoring and guidance by Dr N. Saravana Kumar, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar has fastened the momentum of the project in achieving its milestones.
Dr. Arun Joshi, MD, BISA sharing his thoughts during the workshop
Dr. Joshi also added that Indian farmers struggle with climate change, declining resources, and revenues as well as weakening soil health. CRA program of Bihar government has given a new life to farmers hope of sustaining their income and livelihood. They have learned to save water, time, fertilizer, and other resources using appropriate seeds, machines, soil and water management, plant protection, and increasing linkage with the value chain. Energy efficient technologies such as solar power irrigation, carbon farming and residue management will go a long way to keep the planet safe from global warming and pollution.
Dr. Raj Kumar Jat, Senior Scientist and Station Incharge, BISA, Pusa introducing BISA and briefing on the CRA Program said “BISA is an international organization jointly established by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Government of India, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT – Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz Y Trigo), Mexico. The purpose of BISA is to use the latest technologies in agriculture to boost agricultural productivity and sustainably fulfil the demands of the future. BISA is more than just an organization; it is a commitment to the people of South Asia, especially the farmers, and a coordinated effort to spur the second Green Revolution.”
Dr. Raj Kumar explained how the institution with the other partners is reaching out to the farmers with the climate resilient agriculture technology and practices and how it is using the UAV (Unmanned Arial Vehicle) technology in the farmers’ field. He also informed how the UAV institution is using in agricultural operations, mostly for yield optimization and for monitoring crop development and production.
To help farmers adapt to the changing climatic conditions, global warming, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, the agriculture sector in the nation and around the world needs an increasing number of innovations and technologies. There are many well-proven solutions that can improve clim/ate resilience, added Dr. Raj Kumar.
Training and funding farmers to embrace them has been the bigger problem, however CRA partners with the state government has been constantly working since 2019 to help the farmers in the country understand the importance of these technologies and that is, now shaping up.
During the workshop Dr. Anjani Kumar, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Patna, Dr. Ashutosh Upadhyaya, Director ICAR-RCER, Patna, Anil Jha, Nodal Officer, CRA Program Government of Bihar, Dr. Vijay Singh Meena, Project Coordinator and Dr. Illathur Rajesh Reddy were present. Representatives from other international organizations like IRRI, CIP and ICRISAT were also present including Dr Arvind Kumar, DDG, ICRISAT, Hyderabad.
BISA staff and partners gathered across India and online to mark a decade of excellence in science and partnerships, and to set ambitious goals for the coming years.
BISA and CIMMYT gather for a virtual 10 year celebration.
A decade ago, a foundation was laid with a vision to secure food, nutrition, livelihoods, and the environment in South Asia. The Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA) was formed and the principles were set following the path of Norman Borlaug to translate the agrarian challenges into opportunities by collaborating with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). BISA was established as an independent, non-profit research organization.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of BISA, Bram Govaerts, Director General, CIMMYT-BISA, gathered BISA staff for a virtual celebration on 5 October 2021. He congratulated BISA colleagues and said “[…] BISA has continued to expand Norman Borlaug’s vision and legacy. It has […] been committed and achieved excellence in science, seeds and partnerships by touching lives of millions of farmers and consumers.”
“Perhaps one of the most impactful outcomes of BISA’s work has been its contribution to build a strong and wide network for evaluating and disseminating new high yielding and climate-resilient wheat varieties for southern Asia in close partnership with ICAR and national agricultural research systems. CIMMYT-BISA has not only contributed towards this but will also make sure that India’s farmers are the happiest. Efforts will and have been made towards their income generation, livelihood for families, a clean environment and building of future agricultural resilience,” he added.
Pramod Aggarwal, Regional Program Leader, BISA and CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), gave suggestions for the way forward and BISA’s future collaborations. He said, “It’s time to strengthen BISA and further expand it to other South Asian countries.”
Arun Joshi, Managing Director, BISA, spoke about the achievements of BISA throughout the last decade and about the establishment of the ‘Farms of the Future’. “BISA farms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. BISA’s no residue burning, efficient resource management, precision phenotyping, climate resilient germplasm, quality seed and capacity development activities are just a few examples of BISA’s successful programs,” he said.
“BISA has been scaling climate smart agriculture technologies not only in Indian villages but to other countries of South Asia, as well, and has supported African colleagues in capacity development.” Joshi recalled the support provided by numerous funding partners, by ICAR (Government of India), state governments (Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra), other governmental institutions, CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees and Management Committee team members and different research programs to strengthen BISA.
Celebrations galore
BISA’s Jabalpur team gathers for a celebration
In addition to the virtual celebration with the leadership of BISA and CIMMYT, numerous teams scattered across India celebrated the success and fruitful journey of BISA. The teams at BISA farms in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Pusa (Bihar), and Ludhiana (Punjab) marked the occasion by gathering at a COVID-19-appropriate distance and paid regards to Norman Borlaug and spoke about the objectives and vision of BISA.
The New Delhi team celebrated by garlanding the statue of Borlaug, that stands in front of the office of BISA based at the National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC).
Capturing the decade-long journey
The ten-year journey of BISA is captured in “A Decade of Research in Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) 2011-2021,” a research highlights report that was unveiled during the virtual celebration and that will soon be available online. Arun Joshi explained that the document encapsulates the spirit of BISA and its achievements throughout the last ten years. Its sixteen themes define the work of BISA and its reach across South Asia.
The report also informs of BISA’s outreach activities throughout the last decade and its impact on climate resilient agriculture. Themes such as ‘Managing Rice Residue Burning’, ‘Climate Smart Village Approach’, ‘Precision Phenotyping in Wheat Breeding’, ‘Developing Improved Crop Insurance Products’, ‘Mainstreaming Gender in Climate-Resilient Agriculture’ reveal how BISA scaled up these approaches with its advanced technology mechanisms. In addition, every theme captures information related to funding and research partners.
Overall, the ten-year report is a robust document which showcases how millions of farmers in South Asia have benefitted from the strong scientific partnership of BISA and national programs.
