The Vice chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) KM Bujarbaruah on Monday relaunched the Centre for Biotechnology as the North East Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology.
The ceremony was held in presence of TJ Higgins, world expert in the field of genetic engineering from CSIRO, Canberra, Australia and chairman of the scientific advisory committee of the Centre, Mohd Aslam, advisor, DBT , government of India and T Madhan Mohan, consultant advisor, NERBPMC.
The VC said that the department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and technology, government of India, had sanctioned Rs 24 crore in the second phase for the Centre which would cater to the north east with extended functioning.
Five satellite laboratories would also be constructed in five states of the north east apart from the one in Assam.
Bujarbaruah said that the centre would facilitate and strengthen biotechnology and human resource development in the north east region.
“The prime focus would be on modification of rice for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, use of gene technology for grain legume improvement, gene prospecting from soil microbes for acid tolerance and promotions organic farming through provisioning of efficient and novel bio fertilizers and biopesticides, ” he said.
Furthermore the Centre will have provisions for scientific exchanges for students and researchers of the region through which they will be trained in the developed laboratories of international repute
Earlier B K Sarmah, director, DBT centre welcomed the signatories and others.
The earlier DBT centre was for a period of five years which is over.