1st National Conference on Agriculture Technology and Management (NCATM 2024)

The 1st National Conference on Agriculture Technology and Management (NCATM 2024) was organized by Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) on November 15, 2024. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. K. Senthil Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Planning & Development, Government of Bihar; Dr. Birendra Prasad Yadav, IAS, Special Secretary, Agriculture Department, Government of Bihar; Dr. Anup Das, Director, ICAR-RCER, Patna; Dr. Ashutosh Upadhyay, Acting Director and Head, Land and Water Management, ICAR-RCER, Patna; and Dr. P. Bhavana, Senior Scientist, ICAR Ranchi. The organization committee included (Dr.) Rana Singh, Director, CIMP (Patron); Prof. (Dr.) Vijaya Bandyopadhyaya, Chairperson; Prof. (Dr.) Ankit Sharma, Co-Chairperson and Shri Kumod Kumar, CAO, CIMP (Convener).
The event began with a welcome speech by Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, who expressed gratitude to NITI Aayog and the Department of Planning & Development, Government of Bihar, for designating CIMP as the lead knowledge institute for state planning. He highlighted efforts to maximize agricultural productivity in Bihar through technology, emphasizing livestock management, irrigation, pest control, and drone technology to improve efficiency.
Dr. K. Senthil Kumar emphasized the importance of agriculture and its role in achieving food security for India’s growing population, highlighting technology as a critical enabler. Dr. Birendra Prasad Yadav elaborated on the integration of technology, management, and agriculture, using biomass-solar energy as an example. He emphasized the role of management in addressing climate change and enhancing agricultural efficiency.
Dr. Ashutosh Upadhyay addressed two critical themes: sustainability and doubling farm income. He outlined five focus areas: technology, credit, market access, information, and infrastructure. He also underscored precision agriculture and the efficient utilization of land and water resources for sustainable living. Dr. P. Bhavana delivered a lecture titled “Balancing Innovation and Tradition” through the Protection of Plant Varieties (PPV) and Farmers’ Rights Act (FRA) in India. She discussed the historical context of plant patents, the global role of UPOV (Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants), and India’s preference for traditional, knowledge-based agriculture. Her talk covered the distinctions between plant varieties and patents and key chapters of the PPV and FRA.
After the inaugural session, seven technical sessions were held, including three parallel pre-lunch sessions and four post-lunch sessions. Research papers on agricultural development and technology were presented, with a total of 28 papers selected out of 36 submissions. Among these, 14 papers were presented in person, while the rest were delivered online.
Post-lunch, the event featured a keynote address by Dr. Anup Das, Director, ICAR-RCER Patna. He emphasized the importance of self-reliance to boost agricultural productivity, the shift in national priorities toward agri-food systems, and innovations like SIPs, drip irrigation, millet-based climate technologies, and biodegradable pots.
The best paper award was presented to Neha Gupta, V. Shanmugaiah, and Anand Nighojkar for their research on “Chlorosis-causing agent from Phoma Herbarum that can inhibit weeds of wheat.” The second-best paper award went to Dr. Preeti Jha for her work on “Agrohomoeopathy in Action: Evaluating Satureia Hortensis 6X for Fusarium Wilt Control in Tomatoes.”
The conference concluded with a closing address by Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, followed by certificate distributions and a vote of thanks by Prof. (Dr.) Vijaya Bandyopadhyaya. The announcement of the 2nd NCATM, to be held in 2025, marked the event’s conclusion.