Special features of the organization
The activities of CNBRCD concentrate mainly on natural biological resources, especially microbial inoculants. It is very well known that the use of heavy dose of fertilizers and pesticides is hazardous to soil, animal and human health. Hence, use of biologicals in place of chemicals is recommended in sustainable agriculture. The outstanding work on beneficial microorganisms, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) carried out at CNBRCD is recognized nationally and internationally. Earlier projects at CNBRCD brought out that 50 per cent of chemical fertilizers for crop plants can be reduced through microbial inoculation. Microbial inoculants also helped in raising quality seedlings in the nursery, revegetation of degraded forests and the biocontrol of soilborne plant pathogens. This in turn increased the income generation of the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries of the results of these research are marginal farmers especially women, schedule caste and tribal people. CNBRCD has developed protocols for the mass production of AMF by commercial entrepreneurs, as well as by farmers. CNBRCD which started in 2001 has completed 18 research projects funded mostly by GOI and has 3 ongoing projects now. It has published 109 research papers in national and international journals, 49 review articles and book chapters and 06 books related to microbiology. The trustees are actively involved as Reviewers of national and international research papers and research projects, Members of Editorial Board of several journals, Advisory and Expert Committee Members of several GOI funding agencies, Members of National Academies Science Academies Education Panel (thus taking science to students and young teachers) and Recipients of several national and international awards. For ex., the Chairman of CNBRCD is the only scientist from India invited by European Union to contribute to Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas released at Belgium in May 2016. So far 08 students have completed their Ph.D. and M.Phil. degree from CNBRCD and 3 are currently working for their Ph.D. degree. CNBRCD has trained a large number of scientists from India and other developing countries in methods used in AMF research. It is also maintaining the germplasm bank of AMF and supplies starter culture on request to students, scientist and farmers. Young scientists, extension workers and farmers were educated about the advantages in the use of ecofriendly microbial inoculants in place of chemicals like reduction in the cost of cultivation; reduction in environmental pollution and improvement in soil health. Though research on soil microorganisms is done in many laboratories in the country, rarely the benefit of the same reach the farmers. CNBRCD in addition to research has taken the results of research to the end user, the farmer. The work done at CNBRCD has brought beyond doubt that use of microbial inoculants can not only improve productivity in plants important in agriculture, horticulture and forestry but also reduce environmental pollution. CNBRCD is recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR-GOI) and has all the laboratory facilities, glass house and field facilities for carrying out the experiments.
