Srinagar Oct 31: The Department of Botany, University of Kashmir (KU), concluded the three-day 43rd Annual National Convention of ISMPP, held from October 29 to 31, under the theme “Advances and Challenges in Plant Pathology under Climate Resilient Agriculture.”
The event was organised in collaboration with the Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology (ISMPP) and Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur,
The convention was sponsored by Teknocare Engineers, Next Gen Life Sciences, Frutech Agro Genetix, Unique Scientific, J&K Bank, Hazratbal, and JK Science Technology and Innovation Council.
The event aimed to explore research approaches, disease management strategies and scientific interventions for protecting crops and strengthening climate-resilient agriculture.
Speaking at the valedictory ceremony, Dean Academic Affairs, KU, Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, highlighted the importance of plant pathology research in addressing agricultural challenges. “Research in plant pathology is vital for understanding emerging crop diseases and developing effective strategies to protect agricultural production under changing climatic conditions,” he said.
Dr. T. R. Sharma, Former Deputy Director General, ICAR, and National Fellow, IARI, New Delhi, spoke about the importance of sustained research and scientific collaboration in addressing challenges in crop protection. Delivering the R. Prasad Memorial Lecture, he shared his research journey spanning over three decades, with particular focus on rice and rice blast. He was also felicitated with the Prof. S. S. Chahal Lifetime Achievement Award.
President, ISMPP, Prof. S. S. Chahal, and Head, Department of Botany KU, and Convenor, Prof. Aijaz Ahmad Wani, also shared their remarks on the occasion.
Prof. Pokhar Rawal, Secretary, ISMPP, announced the Society's awards, including the presidential lecture, memorial lecture and competition awards.
Earlier, Organising Secretary, Prof. Mohd. Yaqub, in his welcome address, highlighted the objectives of the convention.
The convention witnessed the participation of scientists, researchers, faculty members and young scholars. The event featured invited, memorial and contributed oral presentations, along with around 49 poster presentations by participants from different institutions. The inaugural ceremony of the event was graced by Minister for Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives J&K Govt, Shri Javid Ahmad Dar.
Awards were presented across four oral presentation sessions, two poster presentation sessions and a special category.
The event proceedings were conducted by Prof. Anzar Khuroo, faculty at Department of Botany and vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Najeeb Mughal, co-organising secretary.
The organizing committee, which included Co-convener Abdul Hamid Wani and Co-organising Secretaries Dr. Pokhar Rawal, Dr.Mohmad Arief Zargar, Dr. Sajad un Nabi and Prof. Mohd. Najeeb Mughal, expressed gratitude to all the participants and delegates.
