The 31st Annual Meet of All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues concluded on Thursday at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Shalimar campus.
The three-day national meeting was attended by more than 100 delegates from all over the country to deliberate on the safe and judicious use of pesticides in agriculture, horticulture, food and food products to minimize the pesticide residue in them for the safety of human health and environment.
In his remarks during the valedictory function, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai emphasized on development of a Digital Database at National and Block Chain Levels for Traceability and Policy Planning in pesticide use and residue analysis in different commodities. He also recommended the development and use of AI and machine learning-based techniques for higher sensitivity and automation in the detection of pesticides in food products including fruits, vegetables etc. for international as well as domestic markets.
Dr SC Dubey congratulated all the centres across the country for the wonderful work in the field of pesticides, heavy metals, and antibiotics. He also congratulated the Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Head, RCRQA Dr Mehraj Din Shah and other associated staff for their hard work and inclusion of RCRQA in the monitoring of Pesticide Residue at National Level (MPRNL) scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India from 2023 onwards. Dr Shah thanked the ICAR, New Delhi especially DDG (CS&H), ADG (PP&BS) and Network Coordinator for the inclusion of RCRQA, SKUAST-K in the AINP-PR and MPRNL projects.
Director, Research, SKUAST-K, Dr TH Masoodi insisted on the strengthening of R&D facilities especially in remote areas like J&K for safe and sustainable use of pesticides in case of exports for better economic returns of the farmers. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Dr Vandana Tripathy, Network Coordinator of the All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues.