President of India Inaugurated BGRI 2013 Technical Workshop

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble President of India inaugurated the 5th BGRI (Borlaug Global Rust Initiative) 2013 Technical Workshop at Vigyan Bhavan, here today. In his address, he underlined the contributions and services of Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug in making this country self-sufficient in food production.
Shri Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, in his speech highlighted the importance of this event for India and global food security.
Ms. Jeanie Borlaug, Chair, BGRI and daughter of Dr Borlaug felicitated the President.
Dr Ronnie Coffman, Vice-Chair, BGRI and Director of International Programme at Cornell University welcomed the dignitaries, delegates and invitees.
Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) and Shri Ashish Bahuguna, Seretary, Ministry of Agriculture also spoke on the occasion.
Dr. Swapan K. Dutta, DDG (ICAR) proposed vote of thanks.
The event is being organized in commemoration of Dr. Borlaug’s first visit to India in 1963. The technical workshop (19-22nd August, 2013) is being jointly organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and BGRI. Around 500 delegates from more than 50 countries are participating in the event.

(Source: NAIP Mass Media Project, DKMA, ICAR)