Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Namkum celebrated its 97th Foundation Day on Monday. On this occasion, Director and Vice Chancellor, ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Garhkhatanga, Ranchi Arun Patnaik was the Chief Guest and Principal Scientist and Head, Hill and Plateau Research Centre of ICAR Arun Kumar Singh was present as a Special Guest.

Addressing the gathering online, Patnaik congratulated the IINRG team on the 97th Foundation Day of the institute and said that the institute has done remarkable work in the field of natural resins and gums and lac cultivation on pigeonpea has been a major achievement by the scientists. Patnaik termed the fruit-growing threading developed by the institute as a big step and said that it should be promoted on a larger scale. There is good potential in the use of hydrogel technology and the work being done in the field of pheromone, he added.

Addressing from the Delhi headquarters of the ICAR on the occasion, Assistant Director General, Agricultural Engineering, Kanchan Kumar Singh said that there is a need to make a big compilation on the achievements of the institute. Singh said that the Firomone technique is being used continuously in Jharkhand on fruits and vegetables and the result is positive.

Like every year, this time also a lecture series was organized in honour of Dorothino Rees, the first director of the institute.

Director IINRG Kewal Krishna Sharma said that the institute has gained expertise in the field of production, processing and value addition, now efforts are being made to increase the area of use. Sharma said that through the two networks through the project, the institute has been successful in broadening the area of gum and resin. He said, “We will be able to complete 100 years of establishment of the institute in the year 2023. We are still trying to make our achievements in a big way to the farmers.”

The program was also addressed by former Director of the Institute and former National Director of NAIP Bangali Babu, Director General (Assistant) Shyam Narayan Jha  and former Director Ram Ramani.

A booklet related to advanced farming techniques of lac was also launched on the occasion. Institute for research training and capacity building, equipment development and other areas for coordinated work in the field of natural resin and gum and non-Governmental the Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the organization Cyclical Development Institute, Oramanjhi, Ranchi. It was signed by KK Sharma and Director of Cyclical Development, Devendra Nath Thakur. On this occasion, the Governmental personnel of the technical, skilled supporting staff category of the institute were given the award of the best worker. In the technical category, Sunil Kumar,. Raj Kumar Nayak and Ranvijay Singh were awarded the Best Worker for their outstanding work in the rank of Chief Officer, Officer and Mandeshwar Singh, Senior Assistant, Assistant and Administrative Section, Ashwaneghar, Assistant Officer and Skilled Support Staff.