10th Asian PGPR Society India Chapter National Conference Concludes in Jammu; New Executive Committee Announced for 2025–2027

The 10th Asian PGPR Society India Chapter National Conference, themed “Fostering PGPRs for Secondary Green Revolution towards Soil and Crop Health Management,” concluded today at CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu. The three-day event (September 15–17, 2025) was organized jointly by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), the Asian PGPR Society, and its Indian Chapter.

The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu and Chief Patron of the conference. He emphasized the importance of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs) in ushering a sustainable, biology-driven second Green Revolution.

Dr. Vishnuvardhana, Vice Chancellor, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, served as Chief Guest, advocating field-level application of microbial technologies and the need for supportive policies. Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Guest of Honour, stressed academia–industry collaboration for scalable PGPR solutions. Prof. M.S. Reddy, Founder and Chairman of the Asian PGPR Society, called PGPRs essential for building climate-resilient agriculture.

Over the course of two days, participants from across India and abroad engaged in plenary talks, technical sessions, and panel discussions covering:

• PGPR and microbial innovations

• Biofertilizers and biostimulants

• Climate-smart agriculture and carbon sequestration

• AI and digital tools in agriculture

• Regulatory and policy frameworks

• Youth and women in the agri-bioeconomy

The conference culminated with a grand valedictory ceremony at 6:30 PM on September 17, recognizing excellence through various awards including Young Scientist, Best Paper, Best Poster, Lifetime Achievement, and Service Awards.

New Executive Committee (2025–2027) – Asian PGPR Society (Indian Chapter)

President- Dr. Shamarao Jahagirdar, UAS Dharwad

Vice Presidents

1. Dr. Susheel K. Sharma, ICAR-NIBSM

2. Manoj Kumar Rupa, Capsber Agri Science

3. Dr. Pranad Dutta, CAU PG College, Meghalaya

Secretary- Dr. Gurudatta Hegde, KVK Bagalkot, UAS Dharwad

Joint Secretary- Dr. C.V.S. Bhaskar, V.R. College

Treasurer- Dr. Hari Sudini, ICRISAT

Executive Committee Members

1. Dr. Jagadesh Gupta Kapugatti, BRIC, NIPGR

2. Dr. Manjunath G., UHS Bagalkote

3. Dr. C. Dileep, University of Kerala

4. Dr. Alagappan Gandhi, Annamalai University

5. Dr. R. Balu, Bharathiar University

6. Dr. Rajeswari, UHS, Bangalore

7. Prof. Prasanth Singh, BHU

8. Dr. Nidhi Didwani, MRIIRS, Haryana

9. Dr. Popy Bora, Assam Agricultural University

10. Dr. Hiren K. Patil, Anand Agricultural University

11. Dr. Kiran Kour, SKUAST-Jammu

Progressive Farmer- Prasad Reddy, Andhra Pradesh

Farmer Ambassador- Dr. Pothireddy Lakshmikanth Reddy, North Carolina, USA

The organizing team, led by Dr. Brajeshwar Singh, Local Organizing Secretary, and supported by SKUAST-Jammu and CSIR–IIIM, was widely appreciated for flawless arrangements and warm hospitality. The conference concluded with a shared commitment to accelerate the adoption of PGPR-based biosolutions, support India's 2047 vision for smart and sustainable agriculture, and empower every farmer with science-led microbial innovations.