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Current Programmes

2.  Biotechnology based programmes for Women and Rural Development

The Council continues to implement grass-root applications of Biotechnology for women and rural development. 

The salient biotechnology programmes being undertaken by the Council for women & rural development include:

2.1 Participation of Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora, Additional Director (Biotechnology) in Indo

Croatian Workshop as a member of team of experts constituted by Deptt. of Science &

Technology, Govt. of India

 The Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and Ministry of Science, Education & Sports, Government of Croatia have recently established a joint fund of € 1 million for bilateral scientific cooperation, for which a joint declaration has been signed by the Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Croatian Minister of Science, Education & Sports. DST, GOI invited Dr. J.K. Arora, AD (BT) to be a part of 8-membered team of experts constituted for participation in the Indo-Croatian Workshop on “Commercialization & Social Implementation of Science” at Zagreb on 25-26 October, 2007 to share her experience on commercial and social implementation of science & technology with reference to women & rural development.  The objective of the workshop was primarily to give an exposure on science & technology priorities/strengths of India to the Croatian counterparts to enable them to chalk out the collaborative programmes. The entire expenditure for visit of the team was jointly borne by DST, GOI and the Croatian Government.

2.2 Production and Promotion of Neem Based Biopesticide as Environment Friendly                   Biodegradable Alternative to Chemical Pesticides

The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India has initiated a national programme titled “Development and Production of neem Products as Environment Friendly Pesticides” with the support of United Nations Development (UNDP) / United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).  The objective  of this programme is to  promote collection of neem fruit, its processing for neem biopesticide production and its application thereby aiding waste land development, generating rural employment especially for women and providing farmers with eco-friendly biodegradable pesticide.

This project was initially implemented at two locations viz. Nimpith, West Bengal through Vivekanand Institute of Biotechnology and Nagpur, Maharashtra through Neem Foundation which yielded encouraging results.  Based on this, Phase II of the project  was launched by the Ministry in 2007 with the involvement of 10 institutions/organizations including PSCST with an objective of promoting simple technology for neem biopesticide production standardized under Phase – I of the project, establishment of neem seed processing units at different locations, field trials as well as generation of toxicology and shelf life stability data of the Neem biopesticide for commercialization, through involvement of Indian Toxicology Research Institute and Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology. 

The project team from Biotechnology Division of the Council visited Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology, West Bengal  and Neem Foundation, Nagpur to get hands-on experience on the technological details.  Subsequently, the following activities have been undertaken:

·            Training Workshops / Awareness Programmes

The Council has organized 11 workshops and 22 public contact programmes till date under the project in collaboration with various state agencies in different districts of the state.  The objective of these programmes is to sensitize different stakeholders regarding eco-friendly neem based biopesticide, technological details for its preparation and application.

·            Neem fruit collection & processing

The preliminary data on abundance of neem in Punjab has been collected from State Forests Department which indicates that more than 12 lakh neem trees exist outside forest area in the state and lists eight districts viz. Bathinda (4.3 lac trees), Faridkot (1.67 lac), Sangrur (1.60 lac), Muktsar (1.10 lac), Mansa (1.09 lac), Fatehgarh Sahib (0.88 lac), Patiala (0.64 lac) and Moga (0.45 lac)  having dense neem  plantation.  Thus, neem fruit collection centres were set up in two villages viz. Kotshamir & Tungawali of District Bathinda after series of interactions with village forest committees, local community and their representatives.  About 8 tons of neem fruit could be collected, depulped and dried with the involvement of rural women. 

·           Setting up of neem biopesticide production unit

A neem biopesticide production unit comprising depulper, drier, decorticator and pulverizer has been set up at Science & Technology Enterpreneurship Park, Patiala.  The unit was inaugurated by Executive Director, PSCST & Director, Thapar University on 31st October, 2007.  On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding for collaborative programmes as well as a specific agreement pertaining to Neem Project were also signed between PSCST and STEP.

·           Laboratory and field evaluation of neem biopesticide against major pests of vegetables

 The Council is collaborating with Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for carrying out bioassay studies and field evaluation of the efficacy of Neem Seed Kernel Powder (NSKP) prepared from indigenous neem plantation.  For this, an agreement has been signed with PAU for collaborative work including lab evaluation of NSKP against insect pests of vegetables crops i.e. cole crops (Plutella xylostella; Pieris brassicae), chilli (Bemisia tabaci), okra (Earias insulana, E. vittella), peas (Ophiomyia phaseoli), oilseeds (Lipaphis erysimi), wheat & paddy (pest complex); field evaluation based on lab studies and integration of NSKP as component of IPM.

The work has already been initiated on cabbage butterfly (P. brassicae) of cole crops, mustard aphid (L. erysimi) and Pea stem fly (O. phaseoli).  The results pertaining to efficacy of NSKP for its anti-feedant, insect growth regulatory, insect mortality, morbidity, oviposition and ovicidal effects are quite encouraging at concentration as low as 1.25%.  

·           Evaluation of diversity in neem fruit / seed procured from different districts of Punjab

The neem fruit collected from 19 districts of Punjab was analyzed for phenotypic variation as well as variation in azadirachtin content.  The best phenotypic traits in terms of fruit / seed size & number of kernels per seed were observed in germplasm of district Bathinda.  The azadirachtin content of various districts ranged between 0.22 to 0.59% which is comparable to azadirachtin content of neem seed of other states.

 2.3 Promotion of Cultivation & Value Addition through Post Harvest Processing of Bioresources in Shivalik belt

 The lower Shivalik belt of Punjab called Kandi area is very rich in natural bioresources and has huge areas that are unfit for precision farming of food grains and vegetables for higher farm output. Therefore, the inhabitants have limited sources of income and migrate to cities for employment. Keeping these region specific strengths  and weaknesses of Kandi area in mind, Department of Biotechnology , Govt. of India had sanctioned the project titled “Cultivation & Value Addition through Post Harvest Processing of Bioresources (medicinal, aromatic & horticultural crops) in Shivalik belt” to the Council. The project was started in 2004 and successfully completed in year 2007. In order to ensure self-sustenance of the project after completion of project tenure, an agreement was signed with Unnati Cooperative Marketing-cum-Processing society Limited for operationalization of the processing unit set up at Talwara w.e.f. 1st April 2007.  Since then, the salient achievements and impact thereof has been as under:

The women and farmer groups were mobilized for cultivation of medicinal & aromatic plants, harvesting of existing bioresources and their processing.  As amla is one of the major natural bioresource of the region, 126 MT (90 MT wild and 36 MT varietal) of amla was got harvested and sorted by mobilizing the local farmers through involvement of 60 farmer representatives who brought the collective produce to project site.  Some of these further involved additional workforce i.e. unemployed youth / rural women for harvesting and sorting of wild amla. About 28 women and 12 men were directly involved in further processing of amla for production of various amla based food products.  These activities generated job opportunities of about 6500 mandays. 

The products generated are being marketed under ‘Unnati Amla’ brand name all over Punjab, Delhi, and Bombay. The launching of products in J&K , Haryana and Himachal is under process.  Further, the products are also being marketed through an outlet at Bombay Picnic Spot on the way to Mata Chintpurni.

 Beside amla products, packaging and marketing of other new products like Aloe vera juice, bitter gourd juice, bottle gourd juice are in process and are likely to be launched in the month of July, 2008.

 The processing unit is also supplying Amla Murabba (for export) and Natural Rose syrup to Markfed. 

 About 15 acre area has been brought under lemongrass and the farmers extracted 450 Kg of lemongrass oil in the year 2007 and marketed through Unati that generated revenue of Rs 1.8 lac to them. The order has also been received for supply of 20 MT of dried lemongrass leaves worth Rs. 2.0 lac from an Indore based firm and the material is under process for supply.

 As a replicative effect of the unit set up at Talwara, two more amla & other horticultural produce processing units have come up in the Kandi belt viz. M/s Bhiwani Herbal Products, VPO Dharmpur Devi, Block Talwara, Tehsil Mukerian & M/s Mahila Agro Udyog, G.T. Road Mukerian, Distt. Hoshiarpur.  One more unit is being set up by SSM Self Help Group (comprising about 25 rural women) at Vill. Ramgarh Sikri, Block Talwara, Distt. Hoshiarpur. 

 In addition to the aromatic oil extraction unit set up under the project, two more units have been set up by the farmers on their own with the technical guidance provided under the project.  One of these units has come up  in village Siprian, Block Hajipur, Distt. Hoshiarpur and the other in Village Paral, Block Fatehpur, Distt Kangra. 

2.4 Solid  Waste Management through Vermicomposting

The Council continues to provide technical guidance on Solid Waste Management through Vermicomposting to various departments / organizations / individuals.  This year, besides conducting a district level workshop at Fatehabad, Haryana, a series of lectures-cum-demonstrations were organized in the awareness programmes conducted by the State Forest Department for the members of Joint Forest Management Committees, field staff of Forest Department, villagers and members of Mahila Mandals.  Also about 800 secretaries/ inspectors / members of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies were trained through interactive sessions in programmes organized by Punjab Institute of Cooperative Training.

 2.5   Genetic Literacy Programme

The information on fundamentals of genetic literacy with special emphasis on genetic disorders was disseminated through radio talks, giving exposure lectures to presidents, secretaries, inspectors and members of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies operative at village level in various districts of the state in 30 training programmes organized by Punjab Institute of Cooperative Trainings.  The interactive lectures were also delivered to varied target groups in the training courses  organized by National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Sangrur as well as the educational institutions .

2.6.  Capacity Building on Biosafety Issues.

In the recent past, there has been a rapid increase in R&D as well as commercial activities involving GMOs.  At the same time, there has also been considerable apprehension and concern about ensuring safety in use of GMOs, particularly with respect to their handling, containment and impact on human health and environment.  In order to disseminate information on status, prospects, benefits, risks, existing regulatory framework and other issues pertaining to GM crops, the Council has been organizing capacity building programmes in collaboration with Ministry of Environment & Forests, Department of Biotechnology, GOI, Biotech Consortium India Ltd., International Service for Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) etc.  The programmes organized during the year included a North Region Workshop on biosafety issues for members of State Biotechnology Coordination Committees,  District Level Committees & Institutional Biosafety Committees; Workshop on Agricultural Biotechnology for the media and a Regional Workshop on Management & Monitoring of field trials of Genetically Modified Crops.

 Contact Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora, jkarora@pscst.com

Dr. Dapinder K. Bakshi, dkbakshi@pscst.com

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