ICAR-IASRI Annual Report 2017-18

Abstract

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (ICAR-IASRI), an ISO 9001:2008 is certified Institute with glorious tradition of carrying out research, teaching and training in the area of Agricultural Statistics and Informatics. This annual report highlights the research achievements made, new methodologies developed, significant advisory and consultancy services provided, dissemination of knowledge acquired and human resource development. The scientists, technical personnel, administrative, finance and other staff of the Institute have put in their best efforts in fulfilling the mandate of the Institute. During the year, research was carried out under 93 research projects (35 Institute funded, 7 Collaborative, 51 externally funded), one National Fellow Scheme and 12 Consultancy Projects in various thrust areas. A landmark for the Institute this year is that under an FAO funded consultancy, three separate guidelines for estimating post-harvest losses of horticultural crops (fruits and vegetables), livestock (meat and milk) and fish (capture and culture fisheries) and fish products were prepared and submitted to the FAO. These guidelines will be tested in the two countries (Namibia and Mexico). Suitable sampling methodology (aligned with existing Survey of Agriculture Census) for estimation of private food-grain stock and post-harvest losses at farm level has been developed under the FAO funded study. An innovative approach for small area estimation of crop yield, socio-economic and food insecurity parameters has been developed. Based on this approach, a web based software for small area estimation under an area level model has been developed. This software provides small area estimates for both sampled as well as non-sampled areas along with standard error and percentage coefficient of variation. An online portal named ‘Education Portal has been developed for strengthening of Higher Agricultural Education in the Country. Two Mobile Applications namely PASHU-PRAJANAN (Animal-Reproduction) and SUKAR-PALAN (Pig-Farming) have been developed on Android platform in collaboration with IVRI, Izatnagar and are available at Google Play Store. An R package called "Aoptbdtvc" has been developed to implement the algorithms for construction of A-optimal BTIB, GDT, BBPB and weighted A-optimal BTIB designs. Candidate genes and pathways of herbicide tolerance in chickpea has been successfully reported in collaboration with ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur. Genes offering herbicide tolerance can be further utilized in variety improvement programme. Cracking of genetic code of groundnut stem rot disease causing fungus Athelia rolfsii has been reported in collaboration with JAU, Junagarh. This finding will pave the way for genome based solution in stem rot disease management leading to better productivity of groundnut crop in tropical region of world. Composite measure for stability and high yield using Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) has been developed. Weather indices have been developed from weather variables using LASSO. IMD (India Meteorological Department) has been using the weather indices for crop forecasting of almost all districts in India. A new improved sieve bootstrap approach in constructing prediction intervals for bivariate autoregressive and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models have been developed. During the year, 22 training programmes (Five Consultancy National / International Trainings, Six under Centre of Advanced Faculty Training, One Winter School, Eight training programmes under HRM and Three other training programmes) were organized in which 461 participants were imparted training. During the year, a total of 32 students (6 Ph.D. (Agricultural Statistics), 7 M.Sc. (Agricultural Statistics), 6 Ph.D. (Computer Application), 6 M.Sc. (Computer Application), 3 Ph.D. (Bioinformatics) and 5 M.Sc. (Bioinformatics)) were admitted. A Senior Certificate Course in Agricultural Statistics and Computing was also organized. The Institute has published 141 research papers in National and International refereed Journals along with 21 articles in Hindi-Sankhiki-Vimarsh, 23 Reference Manuals, 21 popular articles/short communications, 8 Research Project Reports, 1 book, 11 book chapters, 22 e-Manuals and 3 Technical Reports and Bulletins. I am extremely happy to share that some of our colleagues received academic distinctions during the year. Dr. Hukum Chandra was conferred as Fellow, NAAS under section Social Science, 2017 and Dr. Seema Jaggi and Dr. Ranjit Kumar Paul, were conferred as Fellow, NAAS under section Social Science, 2018. Dr. K.K. Chaturvedi, received Distinguished Scientist Award, in International Conference on Global Research Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture and Allied Sciences (GRISAAS-2017). Dr. Santosha Rathod, received Dr. G R Seth Memorial Young Scientist Award by Indian Society of Agricultural Statistics. Dr. Kaustav Aditya was awarded “Krishi Vigyan Gourav” Award 2017 from Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Samiti and Krishi Anusandhan Sanchar Kendra. Dr. Ravindra Singh Sekhavat received Young Scientist Award by Science and Technology Society for Integrated Rural Improvement. Sh. Prakash Kumar, was awarded Netaji Subhas-ICAR International Fellowship. Dr. Sarika, received “SERS Computational Biologist 2017” award from Society for Educational and Scientific Research. Dr. M.A. Iquebal received “Young Scientist Award” in 5th Faculty Branding Award 2017 by EET-CRS Research Wing for Excellence in Professional Education and Industry. During the period under report scientists were deputed on different assignments to Rome, Italy; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; San Jose, Coasta Rica; Cali, Columbia; Kummings, China and Myanmar.