As part of a pan-CSIR programme to showcase products and processes and reach out to the society, the CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow conducted the “One Week, One Lab” programme from 30 January to 7 February 2023. During the programme, various activities were organised including KisanMela, Scientist-Student interaction, Farmers’ Meet, Stakeholders’ Meet, Academia Meet, etc. The programme was formally launched on 30 January 2023 with the curtain raiser wherein Dr Prabodh Kumar, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, interacted with the media and briefed about the activities under the “One Week, One Lab” programme.
As part of the programme, CSIR-CIMAP organised a KisanMela. Shri Surya PratapShahi, Cabinet Minister, Agriculture, Agricultural Education and Agricultural Research, Government of Uttar Pradesh was the chief guest of the KisanMela on 31 January 2023. Er Anil Kumar Yadav, Director of the Council of Science and Technology and Dr G.N. Singh, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh also graced the event.
After inaugurating the five-day Kisan Mela the chief guest addressed the gathering and planted a sandalwood sapling after whichhe also inaugurated the CSIR pavilionalong with Er Anil Kumar Yadav and Dr G.N. Singh. On this occasion, Director CSIR-CIMAP explained in detail to the farmers the efforts being made by CIMAP to increase their income.
During the event, the KisanMela souvenir book ‘AusGyanya’, CIM-Kayakawach—UV protection herbal product, an agriculture technical handbook of alternative cultivation of mentha and a QR code for information on advanced varieties developed by CIMAP were released. The farmers interacted with scientists and industry, wherein they were also distributed planting materials. A farmers meet and awareness programme was also conducted at CSIR-CIMAP Research Centres in Bengaluru and Hyderabad on 2 February 2023.
During the open day on 2 February, students and the general public visited Manav Garden, and various facilities of the institute and also got the chance to interact with scientists.
Dr N. Kalaiselvi, DG-CSIR & Secretary, DSIR, during her visit, planted a sandalwood tree. She also took a round of the 75 high-yielding MAP varieties displayed under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and also the stalls of CSIR-CIMAP’s beneficiaries, CIMAP distillation technologies and institutional research activities. Besides, Dr Kalaiselvi also inaugurated other facilities of the institute including the High Throughput Instrumentation Facility, Advanced Glass House Facility for Plant Functional Genomics and Genome Editing, and Tissue Culture and Transformational Facility. She also released high yielding variety ‘CIM-Suras’, room freshener 'Aero-Clean' and a booklet on Suitable Aromatic Crops for North-Eastern and launched the ‘Kisan Drone’ – helpfulin implementing precision agriculture for MAPs cultivation. DG-CSIR also exchanged anMoU with the Uttarakhand Council of Technology, Govt of Uttarakhandto implement the CSIR Aroma Mission in the state and also exchanged transfer of technology to PIRENS Janseva Foundation and Meghalaya Government.
Dr Kalaiselvi also interacted with CIMAP’s beneficiary farmers & entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and discussedthe role of CSIR technologies in transforming their lives. Later she also launched the ‘CSIR One Week One Lab’ brochure of CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR).
On 7 February 2023 Dr Prabodh Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, concluded the programme during which Dr Gurenderjit Randhawa, CSIR-CIMAP RC member & Dr M.P. Darokar from CSIR were also present.
