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| Fruitful proposition: National Research Centre for Litchi |
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, has decided to motivate teachers and students of affiliated colleges to research on litchi.
A prod by the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (Naac) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) prompted the decision.
Muzaffarpur and surrounding areas of north Bihar comprise the main litchi-producing zone of the country.
During the Naac team visit to Mahant Darshan Das Mahila College, its standing committee strongly objected to the dwindling interest among the teachers and students for research on litchi. Expressing dissatisfaction over lack of research work on litchi, the Naac team awarded Grade B to the college.
“Had the college carried out any kind of research on litchi, the committee would have recommended Grade A for the college,” said principal Mamta Rani, while sharing the observation of Naac committee members who visited the college.
Sharing more details, university registrar Vivekanand Shukla said it became clear going through the comments of the Naac committee that it stood for promoting research work on litchi insect attack on litchi trees, poor upkeep of orchards and other factors led to dip in the crop production. He said the university would ask all the constituent colleges to encourage their botany departments to undertake research to address the problems facing litchi farming in the region.
The university will also seek help of the scientists of National Research Centre for Litchi, Muzaffarpur, for adding market value by making some effort on scientific studies to boost production.
Rajesh Kumar, the principal scientist of National Research Centre for Litchi, said: “There is ample scope for research on production. Studies could play a big role on this front.”