Brief Report of the National Seminar-cum-Exhibition 5

National Seminar-cum-Exhibition on ‘Pomegranate for Nutrition, livelihood Security
and Entrepreneurship Development’ organized at ICAR-NRCP, Solapur
ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate, Solapur in collaboration with Society for
Advancement of Research on Pomegranate (SARP) organized three day national seminar
cum exhibition on ‘Pomegranate for Nutrition, livelihood Security and Entrepreneurship
Development’ from 5-7th December 2014. The seminar was aimed at providing platform to
research scientist, entrepreneurs, pomegranate growers and industry stakeholders to discuss
the emerging issues in the pomegranate sector and to make pomegranate production more
sustainable, livelihood for the farmers and to put magnificent pomegranate industry on sound
footings.
Dr. T.A. More, Vice-Chancellor, M.P.K.V., Rahuri, (MS) inaugurated the national seminar
cum exhibition. He emphasized for concentration on basic research for visible outcomes in
the applied research. He stressed on use of advanced biotechnological tools to combat biotic
and abiotic stresses in pomegranate. He also stressed on development of verities suitable for
processing and resistant to various biotic and abiotic stresses. He applauded efforts by the
institute in the field of processing and urged for establishment of processing industry in
pockets like north Solapur and Nashik. The chief guest also inaugurated the exhibition which
was attended by thirty three organizations from across the spectrum of industry involved in
pomegranate. The chief Guest felicitated and honoured progressive pomegranate growers
from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Dr. R.K. Pal, Director, ICAR-NRCP, Solapur thrown the light on the contribution of the
NRCP in the advancement of pomegranate industry in general and pomegranate growers in
particular. He also explained the contribution of the centre in management of bacterial blight
and other diseases, production technologies, processing and value addition including
entrepreneurship development.
Dr. N.N. Maldar, V-C, Solapur University, Dr. N.P. Singh, Director, ICAR Research
Complex, Goa, Former Director of NRCP, V.T. Jadhav, and Dr. P. Kumar, Dr. D.P. Waskar,
Director of Research, VNMKV, Parbhani and Shri. Prabhakar Chandane, President, All India
Pomegranate Growers Association were also present on the occasion.
There were four technical sessions including seven lead lectures from the senior experts and
followed by 28 oral presentation’s in different areas of pomegranate improvement,
production, disease and pest management, post-harvest management and value addition. The
two poster presentation sessions were also been conducted with 63 posters being displayed on
the occasion by researchers across the country.
Dr. N.K. Krishnakumar, Deputy Director General chaired the session on entrepreneurship
development and also launched ICAR-NRCP mobile application which is in three languages
dedicated to pomegranate growers of the country.
The programme was ended with scientist, pomegranate growers and entrepreneurs interaction
meet. The national seminar was coordinated by Dr. Jyotsana Sharma and organising
Secretary, Dr. N.V. Singh.
(Source: National Research Centre on Pomegranate, (ICAR-NRCP), Solapur)