A group of 34 newly recruited stenographers visited the ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute in Shimla on Thursday and learned about its activities. These stenographers are undergoing mandatory training at the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM), New Delhi, and the visit was part of an educational study tour aimed at familiarising participants with premier national research institutions.
The programme, organised at the CPRI Conference Hall, highlighted the pivotal role played by the ICAR-CPRI in strengthening India’s agricultural research system through advanced potato research and technology development. The institute has been instrumental in developing high-yielding and disease-resistant potato varieties, improving seed production technologies and promoting sustainable potato cultivation practices in diverse agro-climatic regions of the country.
Brajesh Singh, Director of ICAR-CPRI, elaborated on the institute’s contribution to the National Agricultural Research System and its continued efforts in enhancing potato productivity, nutritional security and farmer livelihoods. He said that potato, being one of the most important food crops globally, played a crucial role in ensuring food security and supporting the rural economy of India.
Kavita Sharma, Assistant Director, ISTM, highlighted the objectives of the training programme and said said that the training institute, which functions under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, was a premier institution for the capacity-building of Central Secretariat personnel and other government organisations.
Earlier, Alok Kumar, Head of Social Sciences Division, ICAR-CPRI, welcomed the participants and briefed them about the institute’s research activities, outreach programmes and achievements in potato science. Rajat Sethi, Administrative Officer, explained the administrative procedures and institutional functioning of the ICAR-CPRI. The visiting delegation comprised a batch of stenographers serving in various ministries and departments of the Central Government, including agriculture and farmers welfare, civil aviation, rural development, housing and urban affairs, power, electronics and information technology, commerce and industry, environment, forest and climate change and science and technology. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Pynbianglang K, a senior scientist of the ICAR-CPRI.
