Webinar Series on ‘Redefining Agricultural Research and Education Priorities – Way Forward’ was organized as part of ‘Bhart Ki Azadi Ka Amruth Mahotsav’ at ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam during 9 – 11 August, 2021 for orienting BSc (Ag) students and Agricultural/Life Science graduates towards research. A total of 193 students from 41 colleges covering 12 states of India registered and the programme was conducted online through Zoom platform and simultaneously broadcasted live through ICAR-CPCRI YouTube channel. The webinar consisted of Inaugural session, 3 technical sessions and a valedictory session led by eminent speakers. The Webinar enlightened the participants towards the future research and education priorities in agriculture related sciences. The programme attracted a total of 1918 viewers with an average of 383 views per session in YouTube.

The webinar series started with the inaugural session on 11th August, 2021. Dr. S. Kalavathi, Acting Head, ICAR-CPCRI, RS, Kayamkulam welcomed the gathering and briefed about the programme. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Sainudeen Pattazhy, World renowned Environmental Scientist and Associate Professor, University of Kerala. In his key note address he emphasized the importance of redefining the agricultural research and education for attaining sustainable food and income security for all agricultural producers and consumers, particularly for resource-poor households, in rural and urban areas. Dr. K. Nihad, Senior Scientist ICAR-CPCRI, proposed vote of thanks during the inaugural session.

The technical session started with the lecture on ‘Importance of ICAR and CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamakulam in the Scenario of Agricultural Research’ by Dr. A. Joseph Rajkumar, Prinicipal Scientist, ICAR-CPCRI in which the students were oriented towards the historical significance of ICAR and CPCRI as well the strategies to be adopted for the sustainability of agricultural production system. The technical session on ‘A Conversation on Food –Water -Climate Change’ by Mr. Ajith Radhakrishnan, India Country Coordinator, WRG 2030, World Bank threw light towards the role of younger researchers in prioritizing the research in post-pandemic era considering the food- water and climate change perspectives. The last technical session was on ‘Data Science in Agriculture Research and Education’ by Dr. Sreejith Aravindakshan, Econometrician, FAO, UN, wherein he introduced the science of statistics and its relevance in research activities.

The valedictory session was held online on 11th August, 2021 under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Muralidharan, Acting Head, Division of Social sciences, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod. Dr. S. Kalavathi welcomed the gathering and Dr. Anil Kumar, Dean, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, delivered the valedictory address. He highlighted the importance of trans-disciplinary research in agriculture and motivated the students to work for the benefit of small and marginal farmers

E-booklet on ‘Proceedings of the webinar series’ was released during the valedictory session and e-certificates were distributed to all the registered participants. The progarmme came to an end by Vote of thanks by Dr. Anes K.M, Scientist.

Dr. Nihad K., Dr. Anes K.M. and Dr. S. Kalavathi were acted as the Coordinators of the programme