Panipat, February 9
Even as investors across the nation are showing reluctance in buying real estate, the areas developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in Panipat are still enjoying the confidence of the masses.

The global economic slowdown that brought down the real estate prices up to 35 per cent does not seem to have affected the HUDA plots even as it has taken its toll on the projects being undertaken by private players.

According to local property dealers, the HUDA areas are still attracting prospective buyers while private developers have been unable to draw many. They said since long the properties developed by private companies had been neither sold nor bought in the city. Rajesh Kumar, a local property dealer, said nobody was enquiring about properties developed by private builders, while plots in HUDA colonies were still doing business.

Private realtors were caught in an awkward situation as many of them could not even break even with the investment they had made in developing their properties.

Ashok Chhokar, a local resident, who had been planning to buy his first home told The Tribune that even if one bought a property developed by a private builder, the cost of living in it was equal or even more (in some cases) than a rented accommodation. For living in a private colony, one had to pay additional cost for the security, roads and other facilities such as generators, swimming pools, and gyms which was around Rs 3000 to 4000 a month, he said. Ashok said that after buying a property worth Rs 20 lakh one still had to shell out money for which a decent rented accommodation could be easily found in the city.

However, this is not the case with plots in HUDA colonies. Affected by the unfriendly approach of the local populace, the private realtors even reduced the prices that vary from Rs 5,000-9,000 per sq yard. But, plots in the HUDA areas still command prices upwards of Rs 10,000 per sq yard.

Randhir Singh, who deals in properties, said the HUDA colonies were well located and had all the infrastructure required to catch the attention of buyers whereas the colonies developed by private builders were mostly located on the outskirts of the city and scored much less on infrastructure facilities.

Panipat had witnessed a spurt in real estate activities after 2005 when a slew of residential projects for the city were announced with a majority of them along the GT road. Ansal, TDI, Eldeco and Parsvnath were among the key developers that had announced projects for city.

According to the dealers, the private builders mainly banked on the investors to realise their investments but with the global economic slowdown the investors had disappeared. As a result, some of the private builders either stalled their constructions or attuned pace of work hoping for the real estate markets to bounce back soon.

Gurgaon, February 9
With a view to make the millennium city's environs greener and healthier, the district administration has launched an ambitious campaign to plant saplings in the city. As per the plan, 5 lakh saplings will be planted in the city during the current year.

Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Deepti Umashankar launched the green drive by planting a sapling on the premises of the mini-secretariat recently. The DC appreciated an employee, Rajender, at the local SDM office for showing keen interest in the sapling plantation and protection drive.

Rajender accompanied Umashankar in planting the sapling. Later, the DC observed that the city has been fast turning into a jungle of concrete due to rapid construction activities going on here.

"In the given scenario, it is the moral responsibility of each and every resident to plant at least one sapling every year. One can make occasions like children's birthdays and wedding anniversaries memorable by planting saplings on these days," she maintained.

Umashankar pointed out that merely planting saplings was not enough and their proper care was also necessary to ensure that they grow into full-fledged trees. "It will, therefore, be ensured that the saplings are taken care of after they are planted," she asserted.

Hisar, February 9
Hisar has completely computerised the process of issuing driving licences, registration of vehicles and all other jobs relating to vehicles and driving licences.

The e-disha centre set up at the mini-secretariat here for the purpose has not only speeded up the processing of driving licences and vehicle registration but also the new software being used has almost entirely eliminated the possibility of employees favouring any applicant.

SDM Mandip Singh Brar said a mobile phone helpline has been established from which applicants could enquire about the status of their applications. The helpline currently functions from 2.30 to 4.30pm.

Brar said an applicant who fails to pass the test for a learner driving licence could now take the test again the next day till he or she passes it. Earlier, they were required to take the test two weeks after failing in it.

The SDM has put up a huge hoarding with traffic signs in the lobby of his office for the benefit of the applicants for learner driving licences so that they could refresh their memory before the test.

The liberalised procedure has resulted in about 100 persons getting their learner driving licences every working day. Earlier, this figure was about 25 such licences a day.

Computerisation has speeded up the process of registration of the new vehicles, transfer of used vehicles and cancellation of hypothecation clause on payment of bank loan. About 120 such files are now disposed off in a day.

Brar said a searchable database of all driving licences has now been maintained along with coloured photographs of the licence holders. This record would be maintained till the validity of the licences. Earlier, the record was destroyed every three years for want of space.

Likewise, it has been made mandatory for all persons seeking to register a vehicle to be photographed at the e-disha centre itself to eliminate the possibility of any fraudulent registration.

All driving licences and registration certificates now carry a hologram that eliminates the chances of anyone using a colour print of the licence or the registration certificate instead of the original.

Brar said he now proposes to set up an interactive voice response system (IVRS) to replace the telephone helpline. This would further make it easier for applicants to know the status of their files.

The e-disha centre has caught the attention of other districts of the state, which are likely to setup similar centres in their sub- divisions.

Rohtak, February 9
Now, even illiterate persons working as labourers with the rural development department of the state government, who are unwilling to open a bank account, will be able to draw wages through a special facility, known as the biometric machine.

For the first time in the state, the machine has been procured by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) for making payment to workers employed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NAREGS).

This scheme was formally launched by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Rohtak recently.

The machine would also be installed at the gates of schools for giving scholarship payments to 13 lakh students. The machine would also be used to disburse payments to the beneficiaries under other schemes like old-age allowance, handicapped pension and financial incentives under the “Ladli” scheme and the “Indira Gandhi Priyadarshni Shagun Yojna”.

The machine would help 20 lakh beneficiaries in getting payments at the doorstep. It is claimed that as many as 62 per cent of the families in the rural areas of the country were still unable to avail banking facilities due to various reasons.

According to the authorities, agents of the banks and government officials would make payments to the beneficiaries at fixed spots through this smart-card machine.

The machine is like a biometric ATM and instead of entering a pin code, one has to make the impression of a finger and the machine would give voice commands to guide the users. The data entered in the smart card would be safe and ensure transparency. The machine would check corruption and ensure payment directly to the beneficiaries.

As many as 7,592 registered families have been identified under the NREGS in the district. In the first phase, 3,352 registered families in the Meham and Sampla blocks would get smart cards. While about 30 lakh smart cards have been released in the country, there is a plan to distribute 50,000 such smart cards in Rohtak district, said a bank official.

Fatehabad, February 9
A concert of sarod vadan by Danish Aslam Khan, a disciple of maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, was organised in the local Manohar Memorial Postgraduate College recently under the aegis of the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture among Youth (SPIC-MACAY).

The musical match between sarod vadak Danish Aslam Khan and tabla player D. Bhowmik mesmerised the audience. The musician not only enthralled the audience, but also gave vital tips to students of music.

Danish Aslam Khan is the eighth generation of musicians in his paternal Ajrana Gharana (Meerut) of tabla players. His ancestors had remained renowned tabla players of the country for decades. The latest being his father Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan.

Danish Aslam Khan’s father, however, departed from the family tradition and chose to train his son in sarod playing, the forte of his maternal grandfather Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan, a reputed artist of Kirana Gharana. His early tutelage was under his maternal uncle Ustad Abdul Sami Khan.

Later, he matured his art of Sarod playing under the able guidance of maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The exclusive features of Danish Aslam Khan’s sarod playing are taan sapat and thumri. He is trained in vocal recital too.

Winner of the first prize in the All-India Musical Competition in Allahabad in 1977, Danish Aslam Khan was conferred with “Sur Mani” awards and scholarship by the Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi.

Sonepat, February 9
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) as well as subscribers of its landline phones in Gohana have been a victim of the repeated breaking of the underground phone cables due to digging of the roadside area by the contractors for laying the sewer and rainwater pipes.

The incident took place at the Meham road turning recently. As a result of the digging of the area, around 950 landline phones of the civil lines, sector-7, Vishnu Nagar and the Meham road became defunct.

The District Engineer Telephones (DET), Gohana, Jasmer Singh informed that careless handling of the JCB machine engaged by a contractor broke two pairs of 400 lines each and a pair of 150 lines. “It would take some time to restore the connections, as it is a problem to locate wires in the cables of 400 connections,” he added.

It is not for the first time that the BSNL authorities and the consumers have suffered. These kinds of incidents have become a regular feature after the work for laying of the sewer and rainwater pipelines was commenced in Gohana about a year back. The BSNL authorities have repeatedly urged the authorities to give prior information about the digging of the areas, so that a technical person could be put on duty to guide the JCB machine operator about the location of the underground cables.

"But our requests are hardly entertained by the authorities,” said DET and remarked, “BSNL ko lawaris samajha ja raha hai, jabki yeh Bharat sarkar ki ek company hai (BSNL is being treated as unclaimed though it is a company of the Government of India). Such incidents create problems not only to the BSNL, but more to the subscribers without any fault on their part, he added.

Yamunanagar, February 9
With a view to providing a platform to the people of the district where they can discuss and learn about media and also send their feedback, the Indian Media Centre (IMC) opened its unit at Guru Nanak Khalsa College (GNKC) here.

The IMC unit will focus on protecting and defending independence and freedom of media, improving and strengthening media education, highlighting through international networking the denial of freedom to mediapersons and attacks on them anywhere in India and abroad.

“The media has become a powerful medium that affects everybody’s life. Hence, it needs to be self-regulating,” said the national vice-president of the IMC and also its state chapter president, Prof BK Kithara.

He said many media organisations were being run with the sole purpose of earning profits. The basic agenda of social reform had been diminishing day by day. “It is for young journalists to know their responsibility towards the social cause and use this powerful medium for the betterment of society.” He said the IMC had its units and wide network in 17 states.

Chandigarh, February 9
If obituary resolutions became a session in itself on the inaugural days of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha session because of the passing away of veteran freedom fighter and only surviving member of the Constituent Assembly Ranbir Singh Hooda, it was a different beginning for another reason.

For a change, the officers’ gallery, both for financial commissioners (right next to where the Chief Minister sits) and the officers’ gallery for heads of the departments wore a deserted look within 20 minutes of the beginning of the session.

Usually bursting at its seams with officers wanting to show their faces to the powers that be, the gallery was the first to empty out as the Haryana Governor, Dr AR Kidwai, ended his address, without reading out the whole thing on account of “bad light”.

As the Speaker, Dr Raghuvir Singh Kadian, and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, left the House to see off the Governor, the officers started to leave.

When the obituary resolutions were moved, there were only a handful of officers in the gallery. They, too, left as the resolutions were read out by the minister. A numbers of MLAs keen to speak on Ranbir Singh Hooda, and the Speaker more than willing to accommodate them, the condolences took more time than usual.

Karnal, February 9
The one-day “National Conference on Polytechnic Education: Trends and Future Prospects in India" underlined the need for paradigm change in the technical education, especially at the undergraduate and lower level to cope up with the challenges of the globalisation.

The experts at the AICTE sponsored conference organised by the Apex Group of Institutions observed that the technical education in India has been facing unprecedented pressures to change as a result of the fallout of the globalisation of the economy, society and technology.

Director of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, MN Bandopadhayay said the enrolment in technical courses had dropped at a disturbing rate last year. The reason responsible for this decline could be the cognitive issues related to the development of engineering knowledge and technical skills or non-cognitive issues associated with cultivation of attitude and perspectives that students hold towards engineering education, he added. A direct incentive for the change is perhaps due to rapid globalisation of economy, society and technology, he observed.

Former Vice Chancellor of Kurukshetra University AS Chawla exhorted the students to work hard with dedication for standing in global competition. Expressing his views about the present scenario of the technical education and related quality issues, Chawala said raising the quality levels of the technical education and keeping pace with latest emerging trends was the only way to gain a competitive edge over other global players.

Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Kurukshetra, Baldev Setia said this conference would set the trend for more such interactions to keep abreast with latest technology and trends.

Chairman of Computer Department VP Sharma highlighted the need for change in curriculum and practical exposure of the polytechnic students to update their knowledge and skills.

Over 150 experts from 80 institutions, including eminent scientists, technocrats from IIT's, NIT's, the government and private engineering colleges and polytechnic, expressed their views on different issues related to the technical education.

Gurgaon, February 9
The global meltdown has added to the woes of hoteliers and restaurateurs in the state who are already reeling under the “burden” of 25 per cent entertainment tax levied by the state government with retrospective effect (2004 onwards). The tax has been levied on hotels, clubs, restaurants, pubs, malls and sports units in the state.

“The economic slowdown has exposed the vulnerability of Indian tourism and it has had a significant impact on Haryana,” said Manbeer Choudhary, former president of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India. He was in town to discuss the problems faced by members of the association recently.

“The recession may hit certain units hard as the hospitality industry is already suffering heavy losses. Besides, it may also render manpower jobless and cause a loss of revenue to the state. The scare created may adversely affect future industrial investment in the state,” Choudhary said, adding that the Chief Minister “should restrain the entertainment department from imposing entertainment tax on the hospitality industry”.

“There has been a marked decline in the occupancy of hotels in the NCR, which is expected to drop further. We are expecting a downslide by 40 per cent in the coming financial year,” he disclosed.

“The Excise and Taxation Department, Haryana, has proposed to collect 25 per cent entertainment tax on club fees, annual subscription and sports activities with retrospective effect i.e. from 2004, without any tax demand notices issued in the past to clubs and hotels. With this collection of tax, the liability of the clubs will increase manifold and many of these may loose membership in times to come,” a hotelier said.

Besides, since the hotels/clubs had not collected the tax from customers, how could they deposit it, he questioned.

The hospitality industry was already paying a number of taxes and this additional burden would make their survival difficult, Choudhary added.

Gurgaon, February 9
Bathroom fittings manufacturer Prayag Polymers has introduced a full-grade synthetic metals and plastic taps for the first time in coastal India. The company claims it to be corrosion resistant.

Proprietor of the company Virender Kumar Aggarwal says, “Based on extensive research which indicated that the entire states of coastal India from Gujarat to West Bengal, covering 60 districts, were plagued by a problem where hard water chokes the supply of water from brass taps”. “We are aiming to eradicate this problem through a new range of corrosion-resistant synthetic metals and plastic taps based on the technology called Symet,” he added.

It is to be stated that most of the households in Kolkata, coastal West Bengal and Orissa are facing the problem of corrosive brass taps which reacts with salty water as the main source of water supply in these regions is seawater. This reaction leads to frequent breakdown and health hazards. Research has proven that in these areas, a large number of people fall sick every year due to water poisoning as the chemicals from brass taps form harmful reaction with water.

“Symet technology helps in producing corrosion-resistant products. Introduced by Prayag, this material is best described as a next generation engineering plastic. It combines the best qualities of both metals and plastics. The materials remain completely untouched by hand as computerised systems handle the operation at every stage. The product is the combination of toughness, durability and stress-resistance of metals with light weight, temperature resistance and atmospheric immunity of plastics,” Aggarwal said.

“We are launching this range which will be 70 per cent cheaper than conventional CP fitting taps."

Regarding slowdown, Aggarwal said, “There is no recession for consumer products, as utility products are always in demand”.

Sirsa, February 9
Local CMK National Postgraduate College organised a quiz contest for its students recently.

Seven teams participated in the quiz contest. Team comprising Poonam of BA part III and Rekha of BA part I was adjudged first. Suman of BA part II and Swati of BA part I comprised the team that secured second position. The team comprising Surekha of BA part II and Saroj of BA part I got the third position.

Principal Vijaya Tomar said such activities increased general knowledge and self-confidence of students. Tomar honoured the winning teams.

Ambala, February 9
Ambala City civil hospital where hundreds of people come from various parts of the district does not even have the facility of hygienic drinking water for patients in its various wards. The patients and their relatives have to drink stored water of the tanks.

The hospital has an underground water tank where water supplied by the public health department is stored. Water is then pumped to tanks fitted on the roof of the hospital building. The tanks are not be cleaned regularly.

The patients are of the view that either fresh water supply should be made available in the wards or water purifiers should be installed.

The recent fire incident in a hospital in Patiala has also raised a question mark on the safety of the patients of this hospital, as the building is not equipped with proper fire-fighting system. Not even a single fire extinguisher is available in the hospital.

Besides, the hospital does not have the facility of ultrasound due to which poor patients have to shell out more money at private ultrasound centres. In fact, an ultrasound machine is available in the hospital, but the post of radiologist is vacant for the past four years. The hospital authorities have informed its directorate a number times in this regard, but no action has been taken.

Around two months back, the deputy commissioner had said a private radiologist would be engaged soon so that patients could avail this facility at nominal rates, but the matter is still pending.

A trauma centre building is under construction where seriously injured patients would be brought for treatment. The health department should make proper arrangements before its inauguration otherwise it would fail to serve its purpose.

Rewari, February 9
A function was recently held to mark the commemoration of sesquicentennial establishment of judicial courts in Narnaul, an ancient town, and presently the headquarters of Mahendragarh district.

While Justice HS Bedi of the Supreme Court was the chief guest, Chief Justice TS Thakur of the Punjab and Haryana High Court presided over the ceremony held at Narnaul judicial complex.

JS Kehar, Shyam Sunder, AK Goyal, SK Mittal, Surya Kant, Rajesh Bindal, TPS Man and KS Ahluwalia, all justices of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District and Sessions Judge MP Menhdiratta, deputy commissioner Pankaj Yadav, and SP JS Lamba were also present.

In his inaugural address, Justice Bedi said though the judicial mechanism in the country stood for providing cheap and speedy justice to people, the enormity of cases coupled with the paucity of judges occasionally delayed the dispensation of justice.

He exhorted the lawyers to work with a sense of dedication and integrity to ensure hassle-free availability of justice to the needy.

Recalling his past visit to Narnaul, he said the region had made strides in the domain of development and the sand dunes here had now been replaced by green vegetation.

Chief Justice TS Thakur said while great Indian sage Chayvan Rishi lived on the Dhosi Hills here, Narnaul was also the abode of Birbal, a highly respected minister of Mughal emperor Akbar.

He said it was creditable that the great legal luminary, Shanti Swarup, as well as Justice Vipin Sanghi, the youngest judge of the High Court, too, belonged to Narnaul. He also said while an air-conditioned courtroom had been set up here for the convenience of the judges, the number of judges was being hiked as well for the speedy dispensation of justice.

Four veteran lawyers, Narender Singh Yadav, Rao Nihal Singh, Hanuman Prasad Sanghi and Babu Lal Gupta, who had served the region during the past five decades, were honoured. Former Justice Sharda Agarwal of the Delhi High Court, Rajpal Singh Yadav, a judicial member of the income-tax tribunal, Naresh Sanghi, additional advocate general of Punjab, Satya Vir Badsera, a member of the Haryana Public Service Commission were also honoured on the occasion.

Justice Bedi also released a souvenir, which highlighted the 150-year-old judicial system of Narnaul, and inaugurated the newly built extension of the judicial complex, besides laying the foundation stone of lawyers’ chamber complex.

The District Bar Association also organised a blood donation camp on the occasion.

Sirsa, February 9
A meeting of the non-governmental organisations working in 10 districts of the state coming under Disha, a nodal agency of the National Trust set up under the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry of the Government of India, was held recently in Sirsa.

Director of Disha Geeta Kathuria and convener of the state’s nodal agency presided over the meeting. She informed the NGOs about the health insurance scheme launched by the Centre for the differently abled and told them to get such persons insured, who are enrolled in their institutions.

She also informed the member NGOs about the new "aspiration scheme” of the government under which early identification and special schooling of children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disorders has been provided.

Kathuria informed the NGOs that the National Trust has been providing a number of benefits to the organisations working in these fields and for that registration with the National Trust was a precondition.

Applications for registration with the National Trust could be made online too, she said. But, before applying for registration with the National Trust, the NGO must have been registered at the district level under the Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation Act, 1995. The office of the deputy commissioner provided the registration at the district level, she said.

Gurgaon, February 9
A village cultural programme was organised by the Pathways World School at a Government Middle School in Raisana village near here. The event was structured with a view to create a platform for the students from schools in the adjoining villages to encourage and showcase multiple-intelligence within them. The students from Aklimpur, Teekli, Bans, Haryahera, Raisheena and Aravli villages performed Indian folk activities such as group dance, group song, drama and organised an art-exhibition too.

The event was graced by the presence of School Management Director Praveen Jain and Director Dr Sarvesh Naidu. The presentations were judged by Yadram, Principal, Government Secondary School, Aklimpur. The variety of activities, different plays and shows were performed depicting the importance of the cultural festivals of India. The performances were based on various themes like the Republic Day, Makar-Sakranti, Lohri, Holi and caste systems. Programmes projected the spirit of children from different villages to celebrate and enjoy diversified festive colours of the country.

Praveen Jain said, "It has been Pathways' vision to break barriers of language, religion, culture and countries to nurture qualities to create good citizens for tomorrow's world. Such programs encourage creativity amongst children."

Dr Sarvesh Naidu mentioned, "This initiative has provided a platform to the students from adjoining villages and encouraged them to display their talent. Performances by the school children have been commendable and have motivated us to organise more such events."

The winners of the programmes were: 1st prize: Haryahera village Government Middle School; 2nd prize: Government Middle School, Prakashpur village; 3rd prize: Government Primary School, Teekli village.

Ambala, February 9
The “janakrosh padyatra” undertaken by Ajay Chautala has definitely improved the fitness level of his party workers. Most of the party workers walking with him on this yatra have lost an average 10 kg since the yatra began.

He himself, however, seems to have lost none. “I had lost around 20 kg before starting the yatra. But ever since I have been walking I haven’t lost any,” states Chautala.

His party workers attribute this to the love and affection showered on him by his supporters in the form of rich food at every place he stops.

For the rest not so fortunate, it is a win-win situation all the way. Not only are they getting an opportunity to meet him and spend some time with him and even gain his attention, but also lose some weight and gain a new “dimension”.

Like Savitri Mandhotra from Jind, who has been walking for the past nine days, has lost over 15 kg and can’t stop beaming about it. “Now, I feel really fit,” she says.

Another party worker, Tejinder Kaur, has lost 20 kg. The story of almost all of them is the same.

For some who already came fit like Vikas Rathee, state president, INSO, this has been an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of politics at grass-roots level. “I would never have learnt a lot. It wasn’t easy to visit each village, but this yatra has helped us get close to the roots of things”.

Karnal, February 9
The large-scale adoption of bed-planting and intercropping, coupled with proper crop management was the only way for the conservation of agriculture, according to CIMMYT Mexico scientists, currently visiting the field stations of Hisar Agricultural University (HAU).

The scientists who had come to India to attend the “Sixth Congress on Agriculture" stressed that bed-planting held immense potential for improving irrigated field-based cropping system by making them less resource incentive and more sustainable.

Three important factors for conservation were no tillage, residual retention and better crop rotation and the optimum use of resources could ensure higher yield, more production and higher income, farm scientist Arinandam Sameddar said.

“The basic principles of bed-planting are neither new nor complex and consist basically of sowing crops on ridges or beds instead of flat surface and applying inputs, including irrigation water via furrows,” he said, adding that more stable and higher yield was obtained when permanent beds were used and all crop residues were retained.

Maintaining that even without conservation tillage, bed-planting offered better weed control and proper water and fertiliser management and improved yield by 10 per cent, Sameddar said conservation tillage combined with the proper management of crops could reduce the cost of production by 20 to 30 per cent and water requirement by 35 to 45 per cent.

The results of long-term experiment emphasise the potential of resource conservation advantage and the cost saving of bed-planting in combination with conservation tillage and residual retention, said former director research extension, HAU, RK Malik.

Mixing wheat crop with soybean, maize or garlic crops increased the yield of wheat significantly and efforts were afoot to increase the yield in Haryana from 4.2 MT per hectare to 5 MT per hectare, he added.

The scientists observed that Haryana was suited for maize cultivation but the farmers were not ready to take the risk of crops being infected during Rabi season while other crops like wheat fetched higher returns during the Kharif season, thus weaning the farmers away from maize cultivation.

The CIMMYT Mexico team that visited the farms comprised 25 scientists from Philipines, Bangladesh, South Africa, Mexico and other countries.

CIMMYT is one of the 15 non-profit, research and training institutions affiliated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and dedicated to the development of improved varieties of wheat and maize.

Its mission is to starve out hunger and improve farmers' livelihood by combining innovative maize and wheat research with improved agricultural practices, information dissemination, and global partnerships and has helped and guided 814 students from 76 countries.