24 Jul 2023|Noida | Amity University, Noida
Amity University organizes a week-long, DST sponsored workshop on “Nanonutrient Engineering for Plant fortification: Hands on Training”
Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture (AIOA), Amity University, organized a DST -SERB sponsored, workshop on the topic, “Nanonutrient Engineering for Plant fortification: Hands on Training”, from July 24 to July 31, 2023. A total of 25 participants from esteemed institutions across the country were selected for this workshop, which aims to educate the participants about a sustainable approach of nutrient delivery to plants in nanoforms which can replace the use of chemical-based fertilizer.
Addressing the participants during the Inaugural Session, Chief Guest, Dr. Prabhat Shukla, Horticulture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt of India, averred, “The farmers of the country have a huge responsibility on their shoulders to produce the agricultural produce and feed all the people of the country. Today, India is at a good position agriculturally as it is not only taking care of its own citizens but also exporting food grains and crops to other countries in huge quantities. Chemical-based fertilizers deteriorate the quality of food grains therefore it is essential to use nano nutrients which are sustainable, thereby increasing the agricultural yield.”
Sharing his views on the occasion, Mr. M.C. Dominic, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Krishi Jagran, said, “Sustainable environment is extremely crucial for the health and well-being of all living beings. If we consume, chemicals fertilizers through our food, it has a very harmful effect on our overall health. Therefore, such workshops are extremely important as they help in finding innovative solutions to the existing problems in the area of food technology and agriculture.”
Prof. (Dr.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, stated, “The workshop is a testimony of the unwavering commitment for advancing sustainable agriculture as it aims to provide a fundamental understanding of methodologies of synthesis of nanoforms of nutrients and their characterization techniques. It is a great opportunity for the participants to interact and engage with the speakers for a valuable exchange of ideas and knowledge about current challenges in the field of nano nutrients.”
Highlighting the significance of the Programme, Dr. Nutan Kaushik, Director General, Amity Food and Agriculture Foundation (AFAF), Amity University stated, “The workshop will emphasize upon establishing a channel for better use of nano fertilizers as a novel crop improvement strategy, which will help to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12, which is Sustainable Consumption and Production. Engineering of plants with nano nutrients can boost the growth and yield of crop plants in an environmental-friendly way. Besides productivity, nano nutrients also enhance the stress tolerance in plants and make them more beneficial for consumption.”
During the week-long workshop, various insightful sessions by distinguished guests and experts will be conducted including Dr. Rupesh Deshmukh, Ramalingaswami Fellow, Associate Professor, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, India, Dr. Manoj Prasad, FNASc, FNA, Senior Scientist (Professor) & JC Bose National Fellow,
National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, Dr Abhishek Kumar Dwivedy, Assistant Professor, Banaras Hindu University, Dr. Sandhya Sharma, Scientist, National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and Prof. Debabrata Sircar, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, INDIA, amongst others.