USERC Organizes Fourth Kheti – Badi Diwas Program on Basant Panchami Festival

The Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Center (USERC) organized the Fourth Kheti – Badi Diwas Program on the occasion of Basant Panchami on February 3, 2025, under the joint aegis of the Alpine Institute.

In her address, USERC Director Prof. Dr. Anita Rawat stated that USERC is celebrating the Basant Panchami festival as Kheti – Badi Diwas. She explained the meaning of the term ‘ Kheti – Badi ‘ to the students present and highlighted that India is an agricultural-based country, and the agricultural sector contributes significantly to our economy. Our ancestors made India self-sufficient in agriculture by advancing traditional folk knowledge and techniques. Today, modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Drone technology are also being used in the agricultural sector.

Prof. Rawat emphasized that Uttarakhand has vast potential in the fields of organic farming, as well as medicinal and aromatic plants. By advancing in these areas, we can provide much to our state and country. She also discussed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stating that the goal is to increase the use of eco-friendly products, minimize environmental damage, conserve nature, and contribute to making India self-reliant in the agricultural sector by adopting indigenous technologies. She urged the youth present at the event to recognize the wide career and employment opportunities in agriculture and to continue acquiring knowledge and guidance from their teachers and subject matter experts. On this occasion, all the guests and students also participated in seed planting and tree plantation activities at the institution.

As the chief speaker, Dr. Harish Singh, retired Senior Scientist from the Botanical Survey of India (Government of India), gave a lecture on “Medicinal & Aromatic Plants: Their Uses, Status, and Prospects of Cultivation and Conservation in Uttarakhand.” In his lecture, Dr. Singh discussed the medicinal plants found in Uttarakhand, their uses, various aromatic plants, essential oils, their uses, and the production of these plants in the state. He also addressed the student’s questions.
While conducting the program, USERC scientist Dr. Bhavatosh Sharma urged everyone to align their work and behavior with nature conservation. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Nidhi Lohani.

On this occasion, the Institute’s Dean Dr. Uttam Kumar, Director Mr. S.K. Chauhan, Managing Director Bhavana Saini, Surabhi Dhar Kathait, USERC scientist Dr. Bhavatosh Sharma, Engineer Umesh Joshi, Dr. Nidhi Lohani, and more than 110 students and teachers from the institution participated.