ICAR-Directorate of Onion & Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar, Pune organized the XIIIthAnnual Group meeting of All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad on 5-7 August, 2022. The inaugural session was presided by Hon’ble Dr. Basavarajappa, ViceChancellor, UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka. The meeting was attended by more than 80 delegates from various parts of the country. Farmers, students and other faculty members were also present. Dr. P.L. Patil, Director of Research, UAS, Dharwad welcomed all the delegates and briefed about the research activities at UAS, Dharwad including the onion and garlic. Dr. Vijay Mahajan, Director, ICAR- DOGR briefed about ICAR-DOGR and AINRP Onion & Garlic project and also presented a brief report about the research work undertaken by the main, voluntary & cooperating centers working in different parts of the country. Dr. R. P. Gupta, Ex-Director, NHRDF, guest of honour highlighted the importance and national significance of onion and garlic. He suggested that technology dissemination must be rapid so that all developed technologies can be easily available to each and every onion and garlic growers. Further, he suggested giving priority to more quality seed supply, onion varietiesfor export into the European market and the development of farmer oriented packages of practices. Dr. K.E. Lawande, Ex-VC, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli & Ex-Director, ICAR-DOGR, guest of honour suggested giving more emphasis on the development of hybrid onion for rabi season and longer storage, refinement of technologies for increased onion and garlic productivity, resistant breeding for onion twister disease. He also stressed that working group must focus on more virus free garlic seed production, mechanization and storage technologies through a consortium approach and joint venture programme. Dr. Basavarajappa in his presidential address briefed the importance of these crops in domestic as well as in foreign exchange and stressed the working group to give more emphasis on maintenance breeding,storage and availability of quality seed.NHRDF Award 2021 was announced by Dr. P. K. Gupta, Director, NHRDF for significant contribution inthe promotion of onion and garlic to Dr. B.S. Tomar, I/c Head, Division of Vegetable Science & JDE, IARI, New Delhi and was presented by Dr. Basavarajappa,VC, UAS, Dharwad. He also congratulated all the centers for their significant contribution.The inaugural session ended with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. S. M. Hiremath, Professor, UAS, Dharwad and Organizing secretary of this group meeting. After inaugural, the theme-wise technical sessions including crop improvement, crop production and crop protection were held to review the trials progress made in 2020-21. The PIs from different network centers and nodal center presented their progress report in their respective technical sessions. The meeting was ended with the formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Ram Dutta, Principal Scientist, ICAR-DOGR, Pune.
