National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) hosted an interactive meeting with Presidents of Professional Societies of Agricultural Sciences in India, with the aim of establishing a strong and collaborative partnership between NAAS and Professional Association of Agricultural Societies (PAAS). Had to do. Various scientific and academic endeavors
The interactive meeting was held in a hybrid mode at ICAR Conference Room, 2nd Floor, NASC Complex, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, Opposite Todapur, New Delhi and brought together all the distinguished participants from the agricultural scene.
The proceedings began with a warm welcome by Prof. KC Bansal, Secretary, NAAS, which set the stage for a fruitful dialogue. Dr AR Podel, Coordinator of NAAS PAAS, introduced the participants highlighting the diverse and successful backgrounds of the participants.
The inaugural address was delivered by NAAS President Dr Himanshu Pathak who emphasized the importance of the meeting in strengthening collaborative efforts within the agricultural community. The President stressed the importance of identifying areas of mutual interest and developing effective mechanisms for cooperation.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Himanshu Pathak said, “Our aim with this meeting is to identify common areas where we can work together, leveraging innovative methodologies and tools to enhance our collective impact. However, the power of collective effort will allow us to reach a wider audience, and the emergence of social media as a platform is a promising way to achieve this.”
Dr. Pathak, who has been a long-time associate of NAAS since its inception, provided a historical perspective, saying that 2018 was declared the National Year of Sorghum, and on its success, the Government of India declared 2023 as the International Year of Sorghum. stated.
Apart from this, the highlight of the meeting was the announcement of the Agricultural Sciences Conference to be held from October 10 to 13, in which all participants were invited to attend.
Additionally, NAAS invited students by starting a competition. NAAS approached a number of universities, requesting nominations of at least five students from each agricultural institution, with the universities covering the students’ expenses. An impressive participation of more than 250 students is expected.
Dr. PK Joshi, National Member, NAHEP External Advisory Panel provided insight into the scholarly endeavours, particularly focusing on journal publication. They discussed the potential for capacity building, and submission processes, and suggested the formation of collaborative brainstorming sessions and discussion groups, facilitating formal discussions. Dr. M. Madhav proposed to expand the publication of the NAAS journal to include Hindi and regional languages to engage a larger audience.
MS Nain, Principal Scientist, Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-IARI raised the critical issue of open access to journals and policy papers, advocating for wider dissemination of valuable agricultural information.
After these discussions, participants participated in a lively question and answer session, during which participants from diverse agricultural sectors asked questions, offered suggestions and shed light on various aspects of agriculture. Funding concerns were also addressed, highlighting the collective commitment to finding solutions.
A notable outcome of the meeting was the proposal to establish a social media group. Attendees expressed enthusiasm for the platform, which will promote ongoing communication, knowledge sharing, and dissemination of ideas within the agricultural community.
In his closing remarks, NAAS President Dr. Himanshu Pathak summarized the achievements of the meeting, highlighting the commitment to unity and growth within India’s agriculture sector.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by NAAS Secretary Dr. WS Lakra.
First Published: 26 Sep 2023, 17:23 IST