CSIR-Himalayan Institute of Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, , celebrated its 40th Foundation Day on 2 July 2022. Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director of the Institute, welcomed the Chief Guest Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardee Dr T. Ramasami, Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Distinguished Professor of Eminence, Technology Enabling Centre, Anna University, Chennai, and introduced him to the audience.
Dr T. Ramasami delivered the foundation day speech on “Towards Sustainable Bioeconomy Path of Himalayan Biosphere: IHBT as the Path Finder”. While greeting the staff of the Institute on the 40th foundation day, he said that CSIR-IHBT is located in a fragile ecosystem and is mandated to emerge as a global leader in technologies for boosting bioeconomy through sustainable utilisation of Himalayan bioresources. Apart from highlighting the contribution made by CSIR-IHBT in the service of society over the last 40 years, Dr Ramasami also suggested focusing on developing technological solutions for a sustainable bioeconomy.
He was of the opinion that CSIR-IHBT has to play a crucial role in serving the nation as a path?nder towards a sustainable economy using resources available in the Himalayan biosphere. He emphasised on the three pillars for sustainable development i.e. Bearable, Equitable and Viable. He also stressed upon innovation in the field of science, and the value addition of bio-based products for economical upliftment and called upon the institute to accept the challenges of the fragile Indian Himalayan ecosystem. Dr Ramasami also visited the research facilities, processing units and fields of the institute and surveyed various farmers and industry-centric technologies developed for the overall social benefit at CSIR-IHBT.
Earlier, Dr Sanjay Kumar presented the annual report of the Institute for the year 2021-22. He said that under Aroma Mission Phase-II, the institute covered an area of 1398 hectares under aromatic crops and expanded its cultivation in twelve states and two union territories. During the year, Himachal Pradesh has maintained its position as the top producer of marigold oil in the country with a production of 7.3 tonnes of oil with institutional efforts.
Under the Floriculture Mission, the area was expanded to 350 hectares, benefiting 1004 farmers. The Tulip garden established in the institute has been a major attraction this year. The area under stevia cultivation also extended to 448 hectares in India with concerted efforts of IHBT. For the cultivation of asafoetida in the country, 33000 saplings were supplied and 4 hectares brought under cultivation at 214 places. Apart from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 519 farmers and 53 agriculture officers of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were trained. With the agriculture department, 6859 kg of saffron tubers were supplied to the farmers in the state so that saffron production could be promoted.
The area under low-chilling varieties of apples has been extended to about 117.5 acres in the North Eastern States. These efforts were also mentioned in the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on 25 July 2021 by Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. In a new initiative, IHBT introduced the organised cultivation of cinnamon in Himachal. Moreover, CSIR-TKDL Point of Presence has been established in the institute with a focus to document and digitize Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan system of medicine). Besides, he informed that the farm gene bank at the Centre of High Altitude Biology was also enriched with 40 threatened Himalayan plant species.
On this occasion, Dr T. Ramasami released the Annual Report 2021-22 of the institute and 'History of IHBT'. Along with the cultivation manual on Tulsi, compendiums on significant research accomplishments in the fields of agriculture, biotechnology, natural plant products, dietetics & nutrition and environmental technology were also released. Besides three industrial units, MoUs with Haryana Central University, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Sikkim were also signed during the event.
Apart from former Vice-Chancellor of the Agricultural University, Dr S.K. Sharma, Director of Chinmaya Tapovan Trust Dr Kshama Maitre, scientists from IVRI, IGFRI, Palampur Science Centre, and Agricultural University also attended the programme. Several students and teachers from Kendriya Vidyalaya Palampur and Neugal Public Senior Secondary School, Bindraban (Palampur) participated under the Jigyasa programme and visited laboratories. Local academic staff, ex-employees, local entrepreneurs and producers and media representatives also graced the foundation day event.
