Quinquennial Review Team (2018-2022)

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research constituted the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur and the All India Coordinated Research Project on Cotton (AICRP on Cotton) for the period from 2018 to 2022.

Chairman:

1. Dr. B. Venkateswaralu

Members:

1. Dr. Shreekant S. Patil
2. Dr. N.T. Yaduraju
3. Dr. Chandish R. Ballal
4. Dr. Abdul Jabbar Shaik
5. Dr. Dilip Monga
6. Dr. Shripad Ramachandra Bhat

Secretary of QRT:

1. Dr. Velmourougane, Sr. Scientist, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research constituted the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) vide letter F.No.CS.5/2/2006-IA.III dated 8th Feb 2018 and 13th March 2018 to review the functioning and progress of the ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur and the All India Coordinated Research Project on Cotton (AICRP on Cotton) for the period from 2013 to 2017.

1. Dr. S. A. Nimbalkar, Former Vice-Chancellor, Dr PDKV, Akola

1. Dr. B.M. Khadi, Former Director, ICAR-CICR & Former Director Research, UAS, Dharwad
2. Dr. K.V. Bhat, Former Head Division of Genomic Resources, NBPGR, New Delhi,
3. Dr. M. A. Shankar, Retd. Director of Research, UAS, Bengaluru
4. Prof. T.V.K. Singh, Former Emeritus Scientist & Dean of Agril. (Retd.), PJTSAU, Hyderabad.

1. Dr. M.V. Venugopalan, Pr. Scientist (Agronomy) and Incharge PME Cell, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research constituted the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) vide letter F.No.5(2)/2006-IA.IIII dated 03rd July 2012 to review the functioning and progress of the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur and the All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project (AICCIP) for the period from 2007 to 2012.

1. Dr. C.D. Mayee, Former Chairman, Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board, New Delhi

1. Dr. S.S. Mehetre, Retd. Director Research, MPKV, Rahuri (M.S.)
2. Dr. Usha Barwale, Director, Mahyco Research Centre, Dawalwadi, Jalna, MS
3. Dr. H.C. Sharma, Principal Scientist, Entomology, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, AP
4. Dr. D.P. Biradar, Registrar, UAS Raichur, Karnataka
5. Dr. D.K. Marothia, President, National Institute of Ecology, Raipur
6. Dr. M.V. Venugopalan, Pr. Scientist (Agronomy) and Head PME Cell, CICR, Nagpur

1. Dr. M.V. Venugopalan, Pr. Scientist (Agronomy) and Head PME Cell, CICR, Nagpur

The Quinquennial Review Team had its first meeting on 20th Oct. 2012 at the Central Institute for Cotton Research, Regional Station, Sirsa. It reviewed the previous QRT’s recommendations and also the Action Taken Report. The review of various Reports/Documents/Plan documents was taken up. The QRT also used the opportunity to go through the background information on the CICR and AICCIP provided by the Director and Project Coordinator (AICCIP). During this meeting the progress of work at CICR (RS) Sirsa and AICCIP Centres viz. PAU, CCS HAU, RAU, Sriganganagar and Udaipur were reviewed. During this meeting a tentative plan for subsequent review meetings were finalized.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi vide its Office Order dated F. No. 5-2/06-IA. III dated 20th October 2006 constituted the QRT to review the work done by CICR & AICCIP during the five years period from 2001-2005 and the composition of the QRT was as under:

1. Dr. S. N. Puri, Vice –Chancellor, Central Agricultural University, Imphal.

1. Dr. S. S. Narayanan, Principal Scientist (Retd), CICR, Nagpur,
2. Dr. V. Siva Reddy, Group Leader (Transformation), ICGEB, New Delhi
3. Dr. B. R. Hegde, Director of Research (Retd), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
4. Dr. Narayan Rishi, Professor of Plant Pathology (Retd), HAU, Hisar
5. Dr. S. S. Acharya, Former Director, Institute of Developmental Studies, Jaipur

1. Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan, Project Coordinator (Cotton), AICCIP & Head, CICR, Regional Station, Coimbatore-641 003 (TN)

1. The Expert mentioned in Sl. No. 4 expressed inability to participate in the QRT
2. The ICAR issued revised orders requesting the QRT to complete the review for the period 2001-2007 to coincide with the starting period of the XI Plan as against the original orders for 2001-2005.

The QRT under the Chairmanship of Dr. S. A. Nimbalkar. Former Vice Chancellor. Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth. Akola with the following members Dr. B. M. Khadi, Former Director. ICAR- CICR & Former Director Research, UAS. Dharwad: Dr. K.V. Bhat, Ex-Pr. Scientist and Head Division of Genomic Resources. NBPGR, New Delhi: Dr. M. A. Shankar. Rtd. Director of Research, UAS Banglore; Prof. T. V. K. Singh, Former Emeritus Scientist & Rtd. Dean of Agril. PJTSAU. Hyderabad. Dr. S. A. Nimbalkar, Chairman QRT submitted its report to the Council on 3rd April 2019. The recommendations are as follows:

• Greater attention should be given to maintain the purity of germplasm available at ICAR-CICR on the basis of original characters. Institute must have a structured, time bound multidisciplinary programme for thorough screening of germplasm to identify and validate the trait variations available in germplasm, thus to develop of trait-specific cores or diversity panels for further genetic analysis Distribution of germplasm to the needy public and private institutes should be strengthened.
• Institute must initiate linkage disequilibrium and association analysis in a consortium mode using core collections already identified to associate the trait variations with molecular markers so that gene transfers can be brought about in targeted manner. Work should be initiated on development of SNP panels to assist pre-breeding work and also to utilize the transfer of useful genes to cultivated germplasm Additional financial support through external funding can be sought for developing SNP panels for fast track pre-breeding.
• Pre-breeding work is required to be intensified by identifying region specific problems and taking indent of pre-breeding material from AICRP centres and private sectors. Location specific constraints (biotic stress, abiotic stress, plant type, nutrient use efficiency and fibre quality) need to be identified at different centres of AICRP and pre breeding work to cater to these issues must be done. This may be treated as a ‘Flag-ship program’ for ICAR-CICR with earmarked budget allocations.
• There is a need to re-orient the breeding programme as per the requirement of different agro-ecological regions. There should be a targeted, time hound programme with a team of scientists for wide hybridization. ICAR-CICR may focus attention on basic research related to tagging of fibre quality genes so that the diverse variations can be incorporated in a precise manner in breeding programs. Further, the institute should work on maintenance of varieties and parental lines of hybrids (Maintenance breeding), development of heterotic pools and hybrid development using GMS and CGM systems.
• Transgenic work on cotton may be properly restructured with emphasis on new technologies like gene editing.
• Inter-disciplinary studies on soil health should be intensified by the scientists of the Divisions of Crop Production and Crop Protection. The soil health studies should be a convergence approach in terms of economic value, positive externality, ITK’s. location specific low-cost technology, use of microbial consortia and bio-agents etc.
• Climate change studies focusing on the spatio¬temporal changes on the phenology of popular cultivars, the effect of prevailing weather pattern and stresses on duration of different phenophases. The impact of climate change on physiological processes, productivity and water use maybe quantified.
• Cost of cotton production is increasing and around 50% of the cost comprises labour charges. Selective mechanization to reduce dependency on labour is urgently needed. Appropriate machines (including picker) are not available, although some efforts have been made at ICAR-CICR, TNAU and PAU to mechanize other operations. A comprehensive cotton mechanization programme must be planned and initiated on a mission mode involving CIAE, Bhopal and other relevant partners.
• ICAR-CICR along with AICRP on Cotton has conducted extensive trials on HDPS on Cotton and developed Package of Practices for the same. However the varieties then recommended were non Bt. As the Bt varieties are available now; prospective Bt varieties may be evaluated under HDPS and if necessary, the technology may be fine-tuned to suit the Bt varieties.
• There is a need for impact assessment of the products, technologies and services rendered by ICAR-CICR and AICRP (cotton) system for internal feedback and evaluation, technology refinement and for documenting the success stories.
• To enhance the yield of G. barbadense and H x B hybrids, studies on “Strengthening of agronomic research on enhancing productivity of ELS cotton” can be initiated at ICAR-CICR Regional Station, Coimbatore.
• There is a need to further strengthen research on fertigation, water footprint, conservation tillage, residue management, micronutrient use, crop canopy management, use of drones, artificial intelligence, nano-technology.
• Socio-economics scientists at ICAR-CICR focus on emerging challenges at national/global level facing the cotton sector, implications of major Government and international policies affecting cotton dynamics (area, production, trade) and translate them to policy papers. Focus should he on market intelligence, forecasting demand/supply, export/import. forward contract/hedging, value chain analysis and scientific pricing of cotton.
• Resistance monitoring with new and old molecules should be continued. Baseline toxicity data needs to be generated for new emerging potential pests like Spodoptera frugiperda.
• Under climate change there is accentuation of some pests and diseases while some hitherto unknown pests of minor significance may become major pests. There is need to develop strategies for management of such pest and diseases which presently are minor and /or of sporadic occurrence but have the potential to acquire giant proportions.
• Much work has been done on identification of potential biocontrol agents including endophytes for management of pests and diseases. This should continue with emphasis on their commercialization.

• Like the present MSP for Seed Cotton, a separate MSP may be fixed for lint also. This would encourage sale of lint, promote development of rural industries and provide additional remuneration to cotton growers.
• Cotton MSP should be fixed based on the Cost C2 of previous year. Currently, cotton MSP is fixed based on the Cost A2+ family labour. The data considered for fixing MSP has two years lag. During the two years prices of most of the inputs will increase, lienee previous year’s data need to be considered while fixing cotton MSP.

• All vacant posts of technical and administrative staff may be filled up in a definite time frame. Council should finalize and communicate the policy of filling up of the post of Skilled Supporting Staff through direct recruitment. These posts are lying vacant for quite a long time.
• The administrative stall may be deputed for training in the fields of computerization, soft skills development and office automation procedures for enabling them to perform optimally in the digital era.
• Time bound promotion and financial benefits for administrative staff of the institute at par with their counterparts at ICAR headquarters is strongly recommended.

• The institute is 43 years old and there is a need to replace the old/obsolete/ unserviceable equipments and procure state of art equipment for cutting edge research in order to compete with their peers in the public and private sector. Commensurate funds io this effect may be provided.
• The institute is engaged in the development of indigenous Bt cotton (with new/non-deregulated events) and validation of new genes for other traits. It would require extra budgetary support to complete the mandatory tests required for submission to GEAC. The QRT recommends additional support for this purpose.

The Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) to review the work done by ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur and All India Coordinated Research Project on Cotton for the period 2013 to 2017 was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. S. A. Nimbalkar, Former Vice Chancellor, Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola; Dr. B.M. Khadi, Former Director, ICAR-CICR & Former Director Research, UAS, Dharwad; Dr. K.V. Bhat, Ex-Pr. Scientist and Head Division of Genomic Resources, NBPGR, New Delhi; Dr. M. A. Shankar, Rtd. Director of Research, UAS Banglore; Prof. T.V.K. Singh, Former Emeritus Scientist & Rtd. Dean of Agril. PJTSAU, Hyderabad were the QRT members. Dr. M. V. Venugopalan, Principal Scientist, Agronomy and Incharge PME Cell, ICAR-CICR served as the Member Secretary.

A wrap-up meeting of QRT for finalization of recommendations was held on 12.07.2013 at CICR, Nagpur under the chairmanship of Dr. C. D. Mayee. The following members attended the meeting:

• Dr. D. P. Biradar. Member, QRT
• Dr. (Mrs.) Usha Barwale, Member, QRT
• Dr. K. R. Kranthi. Member, QRT
• Dr. M.V. Venugopalan, Member Secretary, QRT

The recommendations prepared by the members were finalized during the meeting. The final report of QRT for CICR & AICCIP (2007-12) was prepared and submitted to the Council for further needful. Later, the Chairman, QRT presented the recommendations before the Director General, ICAR.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research constituted the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) vide letter F.No.5(2)/2006-IA. IIII dated 03rd July 2012, to review the functioning and progress of the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur and the All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project (AICCIP) for the period from 2007 to 2012. Subsequently, in October, 2012, the QRT was asked to extend the review period till Feb, 2013. The Team consisted of Dr. C. D. Mayee, Former Chairman, ASRB as QRT Chairman; Dr. S. S. Mehetre, Former Director Research, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri; Dr. (Mrs.) Usha Barwale, Director, Mahyco Life Sciences Research Centre, Jalna; Dr. H. C. Sharma, Principal Scientist (Entomology), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru; Dr. D. P. Biradar, Registrar, UAS Raichur and Dr. D.K. Marothia, President, National Institute of Ecology as QRT members. Dr. M. V. Venugopalan, Principal Scientist, Agronomy and Head PME Cell, CICR acted as the Secretary of the QRT. The QRT visited CICR, Nagpur, its Regional Stations at Coimbatore and Sirsa and reviewed the research work carried out at these places. The members visited most of the centres of AICCIP and interacted with the Scientists and assessed the progress made at the centres. The details of the visits to various centres are given below:

The QRT had detailed discussions on 17 December 2012 at Nagpur with Director, HODs and Scientists of CICR, Nagpur. The members visited major experimental fields, important laboratories and other facilities. Views of the representatives of public and private sector stakeholders on cotton related issues and the opinions from them were elicited for shaping or fine tuning of the cotton research agenda. The recommendations are being finalized.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research. New Delhi constituted Quinquennial Review learn (QRT) under the Chairmanship of Dr. A.S. Khera. Former Vice Chancellor, PAU. Ludhiana to review functioning and progress of research in CICR as well as AICCIP for the period 1995-2000. Other members of QRT were Dr. G. M. Bharad, former Vice Chancellor. Dr. PDKV. Akola. Dr. V.N. Shroff. Dean (Retd.). JNKVV, Indore. Dr. S. Lingappa. Director of Research. HAS. Dharwad, Dr. R. Jeyarajan. Prof, of Plant Pathology (Retd), TNAU, Coimbatore and Dr. K. Venugopal, Project Coordinator (Cot¬ton & Head), as convener. The QRT under took review of Institute work during 2000 and reviewed the AICCIP in 2001. The QRT met under the chairmanship of Dr. A.S. Khera at CICR, Nagpur from 19.02.2002 to 01.03.2002 and finalize the report along with recommendations which was submitted to the Council later.

1. Shri Avtar Singh, Chairman, Consultant, Cotton Breeding. College of Agriculture Haryana Agricultural University, HISSAR 125 004.
2. Dr. C. T. Patel. Member, Research Project Coordinator, ICMF.27, Swashraya Society. Diwali Baug, Athwa Lines, SURAT 395 001.
3. Dr. N. L. Bhale, Member Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, and Director of Instruction. Marathwada Agricultural University. PARBHANI 431 402.
4. Dr. J. N. Chand, Member Professor & Head. Department of Plant Pathology, Haryana Agricultural University, HISSAR 125 004.
5. Dr. Y. B. Morachan, Member Director of Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, COIMBATORE 641 003.
6. Dr. Chokhey Singh, Convenor. Director. Central Institute for Cotton Research, NAGPUR 440 010.

The QRT during its visit to the Institute at Nagpur and its Regional Station, Coimbatore, had the benefit of detailed dis¬cussions, with the Director, Project Co¬ordinator. Heads of Division and the Scientists working in various divisions. At both the places. the team visited the experi¬mental fields to study the ongoing research.

Library: 72 books, 60 back volumes of journals. 108 new journals and 42 Reports were added to the existing collection of the Library.

1. John M. Munro 81 A. Wood thorpe Road. Ashford, Middle- sex, England.
2. John A. Hitchings, Indian Pro- pramme Dvn.. World Bank. 1818, W, Street, N. W. Washington, USA.
3. Dr. P. S. Sanghvi, Member of MRTP Commission, New Delhi.
4. Mr. S. M. Bagai. Secretary, MRTP Commission, New Delhi.
5. Dr. Elhilu Omer. Plant Patholo¬gist, Wadmedani, Sudan,
6. U. Saan Aung. Project Manager, Burma,
7. U. Hla Shwe. Deputy General Manager. Burma.
8. Mr. Neo Trung Son. FAO Trai¬nee from Vietnam.

1. Dr. C. G. John, Director, Liverpool Cotton Services Ltd., London.
2. Dr. Ruslj Hakim, Director, Cen¬tral Research Institute for Agri¬culture, Indonesia.