ICAR-sponsored 21-day (7th-27th January 2025) winter school on ‘New Directions for Integrated Weed Management: Modern Technologies, Tools, and Knowledge Discovery’ concluded today at the ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur. In his valedictory address, Chief Guest Dr Mandeep Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Sciences University, Jabalpur, highlighted the ill effects of weeds in agriculture, animal and human health and environment. He also emphasized on the practical importance of such training programmes and urged giving more focus on utilizing the new knowledge gained for the benefits of the farming community.

Dr. Seema Jaggi, Assistant Director General (Human Resource Development), ICAR, and Guest of Honour, appreciated the training programme. She emphasized that ICAR gives a lot of importance for capacity building of the young researchers/scientists of the State Agricultural Universities through various training programmes, and the major initiatives being taken by the Education Division of the ICAR in this direction. She also suggested the participants to develop collaborative research project proposals using the knowledge gained under this training. Dr Jaggi urged scientists working on weed management to continuously update their knowledge and skills to tackle emerging challenges in the field.

Earlier, Dr JS Mishra, Director, ICAR-DWR, and the Course Director of the Winter School programme briefed about the importance of this training programmes in designing new research projects and addressing the weed management problems at the field level. Certificates were distributed to the participants. Dr VK Chaodary, Dr PK Mukherjee, and Dr Yogita Gharde coordinated the programme. A total of 25 participants (12 femate and 13 male) from 6 states of the country attended the programme.