ICAR-NIASM Foundation Day celebrated its 14^th Foundation Day at Baramati (Pune) on 21^st February 2022. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India was the Chief Guest; Dr. S.K. Chaudhari, DDG (NRM) Guest of Honour and Dr. T.A. More, former Vice Chancellor of MPKV Rahuri was the Special Guest. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director, NAARM delivered the welcome address and briefed the achievements of the Institute. Dr. S.K. Chaudhary, DDG (NRM) gave insights about the institute journey in last decade in development and research fronts. He congratulated ICAR-NIASM for the achievements in the area of Abiotic stress and wished a long success ahead. Dr. Mohapatra virtually inaugurated the Hostel facilities (Konark-Men & Koyana-Women) of ICAR-NIASM, Baramati. He told that under the scenarios of changing climate institute like ICAR-NIASM has to play significant & lead role in Indian agriculture. He highlighted the roadmap to work to address the issues of abiotic stress by screening high yield pulse and oil seed genotypes, initiating research trials on natural faming in fruit orchards, building databases by using data analogue tools to sustaining income in dryland situations, precision agricultural techniques & digital platform to link with farm income, strong networking and convergence and develop farmers friendly practices for dragon-fruit cultivation. Dr T.A. More delivered the Foundation Day Lecture on “Fruit and Vegetable in Arid zone: Abiotic Stress Management”. The function was attended by DDGs & ADGs of Headquarter, Directors of the different ICAR institutions, Scientists through online virtual mode and the NIASM staff, guests, invited farmers and dignitaries physically following the COVID guidelines. Dr Jagdish Rane, Head, School of Water Stress Management proposed the vote of thanks. The morning session of the foundation day programme concluded with the National Anthem.

In Afternoon session, Foundation Day Award Function was organized to felicitate progressive farmers, NIASM staff, contractual (YPs, Skilled labour & Security) staff, NAC associates and sports awardees. The awards were distributed by Special Invitee Mrs Smita Kale, CEO of Malegaon Nagar Panchayat, Director and Heads of the NIASM. Progressive farmers were facilitated with awards for their significant achievements in agriculture. Foundation Day 2021 Best Scientist award have given to Dr. Wakchaure in Senior Scientist category & Dr Sangram Chavan & Dr Neeraj Kumar in scientist category. Best worker award was bagged by Sh. Aniket More (Technical category) & Mrs Sheikh (Technical category).  Students, Young professions, Contractual Staff (field & administration) were awarded for their significant contributions for the institute development. ICAR-NIASM has completed its first batch of “NIASM Associate Course”. The participants were felicitated and three best NAC trainees i.e., Mr. Pravin Mane (First), Miss. Sonali Jadhav (Second) and Miss. Poonam Jagtap (Third) were awarded. A week-long sport tournament (cricket, Athletics, volley ball & badminton) was also organised and winners were awarded.

Mrs. Smita Kale praised the efforts of institute in the area of research and felicitation of farmers of different areas. Dr. Himanshu Pathak highlighted the milestone works of earlier Directors, scientists and staff for making these desert-like place in to green landscape.  Dr. D.D. Nangare, Head, SSPS was the Convenor of the function. Formal vote of thanks were extended by Dr. N.P. Kurade, Head, SASM.

Cultural event was organised in the evening by the sport and cultural committee of the institute. The participants were students of local “VP Sangeet School”, Young professions & students of ICAR-NIASM and children of the staff members. The programme anchoring was done by Mr. Rajkumar, Scientist (entomology). A full-pack grand celebration of the 14^th Foundation Day was concluded with a big applause.