ICAR-CIBA and MURUGAPPA Research Centre sign MoU to explore potential of CIBA-Plankton plus

The need to explore the use of Plankton Plus in agriculture and horticulture crops to increase the demand for the product

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC), Chennai, Tamil Nadu for evaluating the efficacy of fish waste converted CIBA-Plankton Plus in paddy crop.

Dr Kuldeep K.Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA stressed the need to explore the use of Plankton Plus in agriculture and horticulture crops to increase the demand for the product. He complimented MCRC officials for recognizing the potential of CIBA in R and D backstopping and coming forward to sign the MoU.

Dr Debasis De, Principal Scientist, CIBA, and team leader of CIBA-PlanktonPlus technology said the potential use of CIBA-PlanktonPlus in agriculture can be explored at the field level through collaborative research with MCRC.  He stressed that if CIBA-PlanktonPlus is found to have a beneficial effect on paddy crops it will improve productivity and increase the income for farmers.

Dr Sandeep, K.P., Scientist and a core member of the CIBA-PlanktonPlus technology team elaborated on the lead found regarding the use of CIBA-PlanktonPlus in paddy crop in a preliminary trial.

Dr N. Unnamalai, Principal Scientist, MCRC said that they are hopeful that the application of CIBA-PlanktonPlus will improve the yield and quality of paddy.

A team of scientists from ICAR-CIBA will coordinate the experimental trials along with MCRC officials.

The need to explore the use of