ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur celebrated its 29th foundation day on 22 April, 2017. On this occasion, Honourable Shri Prahlad Singh Patel Ji, Member of Parliament, Damoh and Ex-Union Minister of State, GOI was present as Chief Guest. Shri Subhash Bhatia, Ex-Member of governing body of ICAR, New Delhi and Dr. Sudeep Marwah, Professor, ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi and many public/farmers representatives were also present during the occasion.

At the outset, Dr. P.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-DWR, Jabalpur welcomed the dignitaries, guests and introduced them. He briefed the mandate and activities being carried out in the Directorate and explained the work and activities carried out under ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ and ‘Farmers First’ programme. He also elaborated the Directorate’s venture in research on weed management and extension of related technologies. He explained the Directorate’s activities in 22 adopted villages in five districts, viz. Jabalpur, Mandla, Narshinghpur, Seoni and Katni to enhance livelihood of farmers through weed management and related agricultural practices. A technical bulletin on ‘Major Creeper and Climber Weeds in India’ and Mobile app (Weed Manager) were released during the occasion by the guests. Three members of the Directorate who were completed their 30 years of service in ICAR were felicitated on this occasion.

Honourable Shri Prahlad Singh Patel Ji in his foundation day address congratulated the staff of Directorate on foundation day. He shared the problems faced by the farmers at present and urged the scientist to work on farmers’ oriented problems. He emphasised on control measure of weeds of waterbodies like water hyacinth and asked to develop very low cost technologies to manage these weeds. Besides, he also emphasised on extension of technologies developed by scientists so that each and every technology can reach to the farmers. Many public Representatives, Member of Municipal Corporation, Jabalpur and scientist, technical officers, administrative staff and students of the Directorate were present in the function. At last, Dr. Bhumesh Kumar, Sr. Scientist and Chairman of the organization committee presented vote of thanks and programme was coordinated by Shri Basant Mishra.