The ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR), Karnal, hosted an event titled ‘Technology Showcasing and Interface Meeting for Technology Commercialization through Public Private Partnership’. The event, held under the Institute Technology Management Unit, aimed to facilitate the commercialization of wheat and barley seed technologies through collaborations between the public and private sectors.
Dr. SK Malhotra, Vice Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal, and Dr. Gyanendra Singh, Director of ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal, graced the occasion as chief guests. Their presence underscored the importance of the event and the collaborative efforts in advancing agricultural technology.
Focus on Seed Quality and Production:
Dr. Malhotra emphasized the significance of enhancing wheat and barley seed production quality. He highlighted the ICAR-IIWBR Seed Model and urged participants to focus on improving seed quality through collaborative efforts. Stressing the importance of multi-state cooperatives, he underscored the need for robust seed production and certification processes. Dr. Malhotra also addressed the challenges posed by climate change and transboundary diseases, advocating for the development of climate-resilient varieties.
Support for ICAR-IIWBR Varieties:
Acknowledging the efforts of seed producers in popularizing the latest wheat varieties developed by ICAR-IIWBR, Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship development in the seed sector. He commended the support garnered for ICAR-IIWBR varieties, which account for 45% of the national breeder seed indents, indicating a high demand among farmers.
The event witnessed active participation from 50 private seed company representatives, along with 40 progressive farmers and representatives from farmer-producer organizations from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
This diverse participation highlighted the collaborative spirit and shared commitment towards advancing wheat and barley seed technologies.
