ICAR-IASRI Annual Report 2013-14

Abstract

During the year 2013-14, the Institute has strengthened its research activities in Agricultural Statistics and Informatics through the in house and externally funded projects, network and inter-institutional collaborations and capacity building. The research was carried out under 77 research projects in the Institute (39 Institute funded, 24 funded by outside agencies, 13 in collaboration with other Institutes and 1 National Professor Scheme). This year 25 projects were completed and 20 new projects were initiated. The institute feels proud to have established the first supercomputing hub for Indian Agriculture, ASHOKA (Advanced Super-computing Hub for OMICS Knowledge in Agriculture) which was dedicated to the nation by the Honourable Agriculture Minister Sh. Sharad Pawar. The Institute has also developed and implemented the ICAR-ERP solution for Financial, Project, Material, Human Resource Management and Payroll at ICAR. The Institute has made its presence felt in the National Agricultural Research System. Linkages have been established with all National Agricultural Research organizations for strengthening statistical computing. For providing service oriented computing for the users, Indian NARS Statistical Computing portal has been strengthened by adding new modules. Appropriate statistical techniques have been developed and recommended to researchers through advisory services. The Institute also occupies a place of pride in the National Agricultural Statistics System (NASS) and has made several important contributions in strengthening NASS, which has a direct impact on the national policies. IASRI has contributed significantly by providing excellent human resource to National Agricultural Research and Education System in the country in the disciplines of Agricultural Statistics and Informatics for meeting the challenges of Agricultural Research in the newer emerging areas. Twenty-one training programmes were organised by the Institute during this period that includes training programmes conducted under Centre of Advanced Faculty Training, Summer/Winter Schools, Customized trainings, NAIP funded and training programmes for Technical Personnel of ICAR. In all, 374 participants have been trained in these training programmes. This year 16 students (2 Ph.D. (Agricultural Statistics), 8 M.Sc. (Agricultural Statistics), 5 M.Sc. (Computer Application) and 1 M.Sc. (Bioinformatics)) have completed their degrees. A Senior Certificate Course in Agricultural Statistics and Computing was also organized. The Institute had organized a National Conference of Agricultural Research Statisticians at NDRI Karnal with the theme of National Priorities in Agricultural Statistics and Informatics. The Institute has scored 100 percent in the Results Framework Document for the year 2013-14. Scientists of the Institute have published 105 research papers in National and International refereed Journals along with 29 popular articles, 1 book, 20 book chapters and 55 project reports/ technical reports/reference manuals. Some of our colleagues received academic distinctions during the year. Dr. Hukum Chandra received Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award-2012 of ICAR for his outstanding contribution in the field of Social Sciences, Dr. Dinesh Kumar received Fellow Award 2012 by Society of Applied Biotechnology for outstanding contributions to the field of bioinformatics, Dr. Bishal Gurung received Dr. GR Seth Memorial Young Scientist Award (2013) from Indian Society of Agricultural Statistics (ISAS), Dr. Arpan Bhowmik received IARI Merit Medal for Ph.D. Research during the 52nd Convocation of PG School IARI, Dr. Anil Rai received Team Award from Indian Society of Agricultural Engineering for significant contribution in the work on Assessment of Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Livestock Produce in India and Dr. Rajender Parsad was awarded ISAS Fellow. The scientists of the Institute were deputed in various national/ international conferences. This year, ten scientists were deputed on different assignments to Bangladesh, Brazil, Bhutan, Thailand, Ethiopia, Oman, Kenya, USA and Spain.