HRD Cum FELLOWSHIP POONA UNITED ROUND TABLE NO.144

A 2-Day Edutainment Tour to JALNA

1. HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION - R&D FACILITY & DEMO FARMS

2. STEEL SMELTING FACILITY

3. STEEL ROLL BAR MANUFACT FACILITY

Sat 3rd – Mon 5th January ‘09

INTRODUCTION

Hybrid Seed Production is a much-debated Technology around the world. BT Cotton, BT Brinjal etc are commonly read / heard words in Agricultural related and Food Shortage Alleviation Debates. PURT 144 was keen to know more about this technology and the issues surrounding it. Fortunately, the top few companies in the world at cutting edge of this technology are based in India. One such is Bejo Sheetal Ltd… an Indo Dutch JV promoted by our Own Tabler Tr. Vijay’s Wife… Sheetal’s Family in JALNA (6-7 Hrs from Pune) It is only once a year that this Company opens its doors to welcome Scientists, Agriculturists and Peers to witness the R & D leaps in this technology over the past 12 months... vide open visits to their R & D Facilities and Demo Farms. Hybrid Seed Production (aimed at cereal and vegetable crops) primarily aims at zeroing down on the genetically superior traits within Plants and selecting them to produce a hybrid that is genetically superior to its parents… Superior against Pest Attack… Superior in Yield… Superior in Quality (Taste, Application etc) PROGRAM 26 Heads left by Sleeper Coach on sat 3rd Jan to arrive at Jalna on 4th Jan 09. Very graciously, Sheetal Agarwal hosted us through out our stay. We were checked into a Hotel for some Rest and change and around 10am left to start what was to be a day full of New experiences every hour… on the hour. Renowned Biotech Scientists who patiently explained to us the Transformation and

selection Process of Hybrid Seeds took us around and explained the significance and processes at the… Plant Transformation Lab Molecular marker lab Pathology Lab Entomology Lab Tissue Culture Lab It was at these labs that we were shown the gene transformation procedure of introducing Bacterial / Viral / Animal genes in plant AND the identification of plant genome and their utilization for successful backcrossing of important traits into the desirable plant background. Next were visits to the Warehousing & Cold Storage facilities Following this was a Special Rajbhog Lunch arranged for us.
Next on, were visits to the 3 Demo Farms to witness actual results on Plants grown with hybrid seeds and possessing hybrid traits duly induced by humans. These included BT Cotton Farm, BT Brinjal Farm, Hybrid Capsicum, Broccolli, Cabbages (15 varieities) and other Exotic Vegetable Farms & Polyhouses.
Before further moving on… Sheetal & Vijay took us for a short fellowship at a Jalna hotspot with Snacks, Juices & Icecream The icing on the cake was a visit to the Night farm of TPS (Total Potato seed). Potatoes are grown from Potatoes… thus necessarily implying that the farmer (across the world) saves part of his yield as seed for the next crop. Bejo Sheetal is the first Company in the world to have developed a Potato SEED with unique hybrid technology. The availability of Seeds increases Yield dramatically and is especially useful in poorer countries of Africa and India to grow their staple diet. This unique production of Potato seed is done in Night Farms since 22 hrs of Lighting is required and Night Farms are lit up like daytime for 22 hrs. This was a unique sight unlike anything ever witnessed by Tablers before.
Following this was a lavish Dinner Hosted by Sheetal & Vijay at the Local Top Hotel and it was time to board our Sleeper Coach Bus at 11pm. Dhamaal on the Bus and Monday Morning 6am we reached Pune. CONCLUSION The experience was unique, knowledgeable and very very new. Special Thanks to Sheetal Agarwal’s Family in Jalna whose personal touch ensure great value addition to the trip. HRD Convener Tr. Karan Gehani and Mrs. Sheetal Agarwal organized this event and the 26 heads who attended, sincerely thanked the two of them for individually pushing them to participate in same. Hybrid Technology aims at increasing the abilities of Crops to defend themselves against Pests. Can this selective defence mechanism induced be cancerous to Human Beings too. Current Debates on the subject rage around the same. Having now been exposed and made to undertstand the severe testing that the product lifecycles go through.. removed all doubts that this technology will be a saviour for food problems of the future. HRDs

ON TRIP… Visit To STEEL SMETLERING UNIT

Beofre Visiting The TPS Night Farm, Tablers proceeded to a Steel Smeltering Unit where all witnessed Steel Scrap being melted and recast into cast Iron Slabs. All were awestruck watching the process at close to 800 deg C Visit To STEEL ROD (Construction) EXTRUSION UNIT Tablers then proceeded to yet another factory where Construction Steel Rods were extruded from the Cast Iron Blocks. This too was a unique sight for all watching the Steel being melted again and extruded into >30ft Rods
Report by…

Tr. KaraN Gehani HRD

Convener PURT 144