Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 12: Prof. J.P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-NBAIR), Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Director of the Bureau, Dr. M. Nagesh signed the MOU on behalf of ICAR-NBAIR.
The ICAR-NBAIR act as a nodal agency for collection, characterization, documentation, conservation, exchange, research and utilization of agriculturally important insect resources (including mites, spiders and related arthropods) and insect derived resources for sustainable agriculture, in addition to capacity building, development of technologies for non chemical pest management, dissemination of technologies and forging linkages with stakeholders.
The ICAR-NBAIR has three divisions, wherein the division of Germplasm Collection and Characterization deals with augmentation of collections and maintenance of a national repository; biosystematic studies on insects, spiders and mites, generation of checklists, catalogues, illustrated field identification guides and digitization of collections, networking of institutions and individuals working on biosystematics and identification services, and classical biological control, biosecurity, threat perception with action-plan for alien pests, while the division of Genomic Resources of NBAIR-ICAR conducts molecular characterisation and DNA barcoding of insects and their resources; whole-genome sequencing of some important insects and entomopathogenic nematodes; gene and allele mining for the selection of genes of specific interest and their utilization; RNAi technology for IPM; genome sequence repository for useful genes; endosymbionts and determination of their functional role; and use of bioinformatics tools and development of genomic databases; and the division of Germplasm, Conservation and Utilisation has the mandates of utilization of agriculturally important arthropods for the management of insect pests; development of protocols and designs for the establishment of state of art mass production units for beneficial; introduction of beneficial quarantine and post-release monitoring; effect of climate change; role of pollinators in crop productivity; role of semiochemicals for insect pest management; and studies on virus-vector dynamics.
SKUAST-J is a multi-campus and multi-disciplinary University in Jammu province catering the needs of farmers and line departments of Jammu region through various research stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras besides providing academic opportunities to the students for under graduate and post graduate degree programs in agriculture and allied fields. The MOU has been conducted with the objective of sharing the knowledge and opportunities in higher education and to promote institutional linkage for possible collaborations in their expertise. Both the institutes shall also identify specific fields to conduct collaborative research programs of mutual interest.
The MoU shall promote the academics and scientific research, joint conferences, seminars, etc. of common interests for both the institutes. Dr. Pardeep Wali, Director Research; Dr. S.K. Gupta, Registrar; Dr. Mahital Jamwal, Dy. Director Research of SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha and Dr. Neelesh Sharma, Assistant Professor in the Division of Veterinary Medicine, FVSc & AH, SKUAST-Jammu, R.S. Pura were associated in conducting the MoU. |
