QRT Chairman of NIASM, Baramati
The ICAR has nominated Dr. Gurbachan Singh as chairman of the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) to review the nine years work of National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati. This is the first QRT of this institute after its establishment. The other members of the team included : Dr. K.E. Lawande, Ex Vice Chancellor; Dr. Dalip Kumar, Ex Director CIFE, Mumbai; Dr. K.C. Bansal, Ex-Director, NBPGR, New Delhi; Dr. Rajinder Singh, Registrar, PAU, Ludhiana; Dr. GGSN Rao, Ex PC, Agro meteorology and Dr. Jogeshwar Singh, Principal Scientist, NIASM, Baramati.
TAAS Vice Chairman
The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), New Delhi, Chairman Dr. R.S.Paroda, Ex- Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR and other Board Members nominated Dr. Gurbachan Singh as Vice-Chairman of the trust. The TAAS Board in addition to Dr. Paroda and Gurbachan Singh included : MadamRita Sharma ( Ex-Secretary, Govt. of India), Dr. Trilochan Mahapatra (Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR); Dr. K.L. Chadha (Ex DDG, Horticulture); Dr. A.K. Srivastava (Member, ASRB); Dr. N.N. Singh (Ex Vice Chancellor); Dr. J.L. Karihaloo (Former Coordinator, Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions); Dr. A.K. Singh (Director, IARI); Dr. Narendra Gupta and Mr. Raju Barwale (MAHYCO). The Trust under the visionary leadership of Dr. R.S. Paroda organizes workshops, conferences, and brain storming sessions on topical subjects of agriculture and publishes proceedings for implementation by the research and education managers and policymakers/advocators.
Karnal District Agricultural Council (KDAC)
The Indian Council for Food and Agriculture (ICFA), NewDelhiisin the process of establishing state and district level Councils to link farmers with latest agricultural technologies and innovations to improve their income and livelihood. ICFA established its first district level Council for Lakhimpur district (UP). The second agriculture council for Karnal District was established during a special function organized by ICFA to honor. progressive farmers at CSSRI, Karnal. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Sh. Manohar lal graced the occasion as chief guest and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare presided. Dr. Gurbachan Singh was nominated as Chairman of KDAC, by the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Chairman of ICFA Mr. M. J. Khan.
Chairman G S Foundation in NIASM, Baramati and Goa
Dr. Gurbachan Singh was in Baramati from 28-30 November, 2018 to chair 4th QRT meeting of ICAR- National Institute for Abiotic Stress Management (NIASM). The meeting was specically organized to have feedback and suggestions from Ex-directors of NIASM and present directors of stress management institutes. Other stake holders and representatives of state govt., farmers and entrepreneurs were also invited. Notable participants included Dr. P.S. Minhas and Dr. K.P.R. Vittal (former directors of NIASM), Dr. P.C. Sharma, Director, CSSRI, Karnal, Dr. O.P. Yadav Director, CAZRI, Jodhpur and Dr. N.P. Singh, Director, NIASM. QRT Chairman and Members also interacted with Chairman of Research Advisory Committee of NIASM Dr. A.K. SIKKA (Former DDG, NRM) and other members.
The QRT team also visited ICAR- Indian Institute for Coastal Agricultural Research, Goa. The QRT team had discussions with research managers, scientists, state govt. officials, progressive farmers, NGO’s representatives regarding vulnerability of coastal eco-system to abiotic stresses like variations in temperature and rainfall, drought, flooding, cyclones, cold and heat waves etc. A visit to farmers participatory research and demonstrations in the field was also organized. Dr. N.P. Singh, Director, NIASM, Baramati coordinated and facilitated QRT visit to Goa.
Chairman, GSFRED visited Almora from 22-25 Oct, 2018 on an official visit to ICAR- Vivekananda Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan. The director of the institute Dr. Arunava Pattanayak showed institute activities including experiments on the research farm of the institute to the visiting Ex-Chairman Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) and Agriculture Commissioner, Govt. of India. The Chairman also had the opportunity to meet newly recruited Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists, who recently joined the institute and also addressed all scientists of the institute. Long term experiments of the institute on Natural Resources Management were also discussed. Dr. R.K.Singh (ADG) Commercial Crops, ICAR was also present during the three day visit to the institute.
QRT Report of NIASM, Baramati to DG, ICAR
A Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) under the chairmanship of Dr. Gurbachan Singh was constituted by DG, ICAR to review the work of National Institute of Abiotic Stress Managemnet (NIASM), Baramati for the period 2009 to 2017. The other members of the team included : Prof. K. E. Lawande, Ex. Vice Chancellor; Prof. Dilip Kumar, Ex- Director, ICAR-CIFE; Prof. Rajinder Singh Sidhu, Registrar, PAU, Ludhiana; Dr. G. G. S. N. Rao, Ex. Project Coordinator, ICAR-AICRP on Agrometerology; Dr. K. C. Bansal, Ex. Director, NBPGR and Dr. Yogeshwar Singh, Principal Scientist, NIASM (Member Secretary). Dr. Gurbachan Singh visited Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi on 8th April, 2019 and submitted the QRT report to Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, DG, ICAR. Dr. Alga Sundhram (DDG, NRM), Dr. S. K. Chaudhary (ADG, SWM) and Dr. N. P. Singh (Director, NIASM, Baramati) were also present.
Innovative Farmers’ Meet
Innovative Farmers’ Meet
Dr. Gurbachan Singh, Chairman, GSFRED participated in the Innovative Farmers Meet as Guest of Honour at Karnal on 14 June, 2019. The innovative farmers meet was organized jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Modern Kheti Agro-Society. More than 200 farmers, scientists, industry representatives, state govt. officials and representatives of farmers organizations and private sector participated in this Meet. Sh. Harvinder Kalyan, MLA, Gharaunda inaugurated the meet as Chief Guest. The innovative farmers and other stakeholders were honoured by Chief Guest Sh. Harvinder Kalyan and Guest of Honour Dr. Gurbachan Singh. Later on, in the afternoon, delegates of Innovative Farmers Meet visited GSF Research, Education and Development.
Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow
Dr. Gurbachan Singh visited Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research in connection with participation as Guest of Honour in the First Foundation Day celebration of National Education Empowerment & Development Foundation (NEEDEF). Several awards to honor outstanding scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs were presented. Dr. A. K. Singh, DDG, Agricultural Extension, ICAR was the Chief Guest and Dr. Gurbachan Singh presided over the function. A seminar on increasing productivity of sugarcane was also organized.
Thiruvananthapuram
Dr. Gurbachan Singh visited Thiruvananthapuram, Kerela from 30-31 Jan, 2019 to participate as UGC nominee in the Governing Council Meeting of Mar Ivanios College (Autonomous) Thiruvananthapuram. The Governing Body Meeting was chaired by his Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos and attended by other members of the Governing Council. After the meeting in the college, Dr. Suju Joseph Ker, Professor of Chemistry accompanied Dr. Singh for a visit to places of educational and tourist interest in Thiruvananthapuram.
CII Northern India Head Quarters in Chandigarh
Dr. Gurbachan Singh, Chairman, GSFRED participated in the Progressive Farmers Meet organized at the CII Northern India Head Quarters in Chandigarh on 3 July, 2019 and delivered a special lecture on “Agrarian Crisis and Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture”. Progressive farmers, NGO representatives, private sector and industry leaders participated in this conference. The prominent delegates included Sh. Ajay Vir Jhakar, Chairman, Punjab State Farmer and Farm Workers Commission; Sh. Subhash Chander Katyal, Chairman, HAFED; Sh. Balwinder Singh, Commissioner Agriculture, Govt. of Punjab; Sh. Harish Chavan, CII Punjab State Council Chairman and CEO Mahindra and Mahindra (Swaraj Division) and Dr. Rajesh Kumar, CII Director. One of the major outcomes of this Innovative Farmers Meet organized by CII was for conserving and protecting sources of water which was considered the single largest limiting factor for the future of agriculture in India. Dr. Singh in his Special Lecture also shared activities initiated under the Gurbachan Singh Foundation for Research, Education and Development (GSFRED), an NGO he established after retirement for linking agricultural science innovations to farmers, unemployed youth and students. One of the major thrust areas of GSFRED included conservation of natural resources and livelihood security through skill and entrepreneurship development in small and marginal farmers. He invited participants of the Meet to visit GSFRED Research, Education and Development Centre established near Karnal (www.gsfred.in).
Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR) Regional Centre, Karnal
Dr. Gurbachan Singh visited on IISR Regional Centre, Karnal 28 Sep, 2019 to participate as Chief Guest in the valedictory function of celebration of Hindi Pakhwada from 14-28 September, 2019. Dr. Singh also used the opportunity to visit excellent research work being done in the field and in laboratories. He also watered the palm plant which he planted about 6 years back in front of IISR Administrative Building. He also distributed certificates to the participants who got prizes for the good work done in promotion of Hindi during the year.
Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA)
Dr. Gurbachan Singh visited CRIDA, Hyderabad to chair Research Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting of the institute scheduled for 24-25 October, 2019.
CRRID, Chandigarh
Dr. Gurbachan Singh Chairman GSFRED participated and presented a paper entitled “Evergreen Revolution for Safe Environment, Peace and Happiness of Humanity” in the International Conference organized by CRRID, Chandigarh on the eve of 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Honourable Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, Former Prime Minister of India was the Chief Guest and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi Ji was Guest of Honour during the valedictory function of the International Conference. The opportunity was also used to handover a copy of the book entitled “Crop Residue Burning Management Strategies for Safe Environment” published by G S Foundation for Research, Education and Development to honourable Sardar Manmohan Singh Ji.
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), ANAND
Dr. Gurbachan Singh visited National Dairy Development Board, ANAND on 21 November to participate and present a key note paper entitled ‘Spineless Cactus and Prosopis as unconventional Fodder for Semi-arid/ Arid Regions of India’ in the National Seminar on Nutritional Strategies for Optimizing Production Cost and Milk Quality. A complimentary copy of the recently published book by GS Foundation (Crop Residue Burning : Management Strategies for Safe Environment) was also presented to Sh. Dilip Rath, Chairman, NDDB, Anand
SBI KISSAN MELA
Amongst the dignitaries participated included Chief General Manager, General Manager and assistant General Managers of SBI, Director CSSRI, Shri Ravi Beri and Padam Sri Sultan Singh . This is the first time SBI organized such Mela to link bank schemes for welfare of farmers.