Under Indo-Bhutan Bilateral Cooperation agreement, one international training program has been organized by ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI), Nagpur for the agriculture and horticulture officers of Bhutan from March 25 to April 6.
The title of this training program is “PCR Diagnosis of Virus and Virus-like Pathogens including Citrus greening (HLB) and Advanced Techniques of Citrus Nursery Plant Propagation System”.
Principal Scientist (Plant Pathology-Virology) and Training Coordinator, Dr Dilip Ghosh, informed that during this two weeks period, the participants will be learning different molecular diagnostic techniques for rapid and sensitive detection of citrus viruses and Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the unculturable bacterium that causes the devastating citrus greening disease. In fact this group of pathogens are considered as major factor responsible for causing citrus decline in Bhutan.
Apart from these, the training participants will also be exposed with advanced techniques on citrus nursery plant propagation system. During last few decades, CCRI has done extensive research on development of disease diagnostics and production of disease-free quality planting material for the citrus growers of the country.
Earlier, similar training programs were organized for the participants of Oman and Nepal that were funded by respected countries informed Dr Ghosh.
After the successful completion of this training program, the officers of Bhutan will acquire the skills on advanced techniques of disease diagnosis and nursery management and will implement their new skills for improving the citrus industry of Bhutan.
Training Coordinator and former FAO Consultant, Dr Ghosh said it gives a special satisfaction to share our knowledge and experiences with our friends of Bhutan. This training program has been sponsored and funded by Royal Government of Bhutan. Dr M S Ladaniya, Director, CCRI has wished a grand success of this training program.
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