Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR) Bhubaneswar celebrated its 29th Foundation Day on 6th November, 2021. The function was inaugurated by the dignitaries by lighting the ceremonial lamp and Ganesh Vandana followed by ICAR song, IIHR Song and CHES (ICAR-IIHR) vista video.
At the outset, Dr. G.C. Acharya Head I/c delivered welcome address and gave a brief account of activities and achievements of the station. He welcomed Dr. B N S Murthy, Director, ICAR-IIHR, and all the guests, who joined through online platform from ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru and other parts of the country.
He also welcomed the invited guests, staff and all participants present at the venue. During his address he acknowledged and appreciated the dedicated hard work put up by the present and past employees, and other workers of the Station, with continued support of HQs, towards the development of the Station as a prestigious institution in the eastern region.
In his Foundation Day address, Director, ICAR-IIHR, conveyed best wishes to all the staff of the Station and appreciated the contribution of CHES (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar in terms of developing varieties of fruits and vegetables, production and protection technologies and development of farm machineries, and ensuring effective transfer of technologies among the farming community including tribal farmers. He encouraged for organizing more demonstrations of horticultural technologies for the benefit of farming community. He motivated to aim for targets like 30 training programmes, 30 publications, 30 new germplasm etc to be achieved before 30th Foundation day celebrations next year.
Many former officials, Heads of Divisions of ICAR-IIHR, Nodal Officers and scientists of ICAR-IIHR joined virtually. Some ex-employees of CHES, Bhubaneswar like Dr V Pandey, ADG (Hort), ICAR; Dr Vishal Nath, OSD, ICAR-IIHR Jharkhand; Dr Saju George, Dr V Sridhar, Dr G Sangeetha and Dr P Naresh from ICAR-IIHR; and Dr Meenu Kumari (ICAR-ICAR complex for Eastern Region, Regional Station, Ranchi) addressed the gathering online and narrated their fond memories and association with the Station. Heads of Division, Nodal Officers and scientists from ICAR-IIHR HQs also graced the occasion through online platform and conveyed their appreciation and best wishes for the progress of the Station.
Several staff, including Dr P Srinivas, Dr Kundan Kishore, Dr. Manas Sahoo, Dr Satyapriya Singh, Sri. Manoj Pattanaik, Mrs S Pradhan, Sri C S Durga, Mr. Biswanath Paikray, and others shared their experiences and old memories during the long journey of the Station.
On this occasion, two successful farmers, Sri Sangram Kesari Pradhan, Boudh (for adopting mango + pineapple intercropping) and Sri Surendra Kumar Mallick, Cuttack (for commercial cultivation of underutilized cucurbits) were felicitated for adoption and promotion of ICAR-IIHR technologies.
Chief Guest of the function Dr Gourahari Naik, former Head, while addressing the gathering, elaborated the history of CHES establishment and highlighted the contribution of staff in the development of the station. He appreciated the staff for working with enthusiasm and zeal for the benefit of farming community. During the programme, Guests of honour Dr. Siddharth Mishra, Medical Superintendent, AMRI hospital, and Mrs Madhumita Behera, Branch Manager, SBI expressed their delight and pleasure to be associated with CHES, Bhubaneswar and wished the staff on the occasion of foundation day. Guest of honour, Mr. Banshidhar Mohapatra, former AFAO, CHES, Bhubaneswar fondly recalled his memories and experiences during his tenure the Station.
A brief cultural program and poem recitation were also organized. The proceedings of the foundation day programme were anchored by Dr. P. Srinivas and Mrs. Annapurna Behera.
The foundation day program arrangements and organisation was coordinated by Mrs. Annapurna Behera, AAO and Nodal officer, Staff welfare Committee with active help of Dr. P Srinivas, Dr. Kundan Kishore, Dr. Manas Sahoo, Sri Satyapriya Singh, Mrs Rina Patanayak, Smt S Pradhan, Sri Manoj Pattnaik, Sri C S Durga, Syed Idrish Ali, Mrs. Suchitra Behra, Sri B C Patra, Sri Gobinda Naik, supporting and outsourcing staff and other staff of the station under the leadership of Dr G C Acharya, Head IC.
