'Pulse 2016' meet begins to build awareness

in association with Visva-Bharati, the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry organised 'Pulse 2016' - Self Sufficiency in Pulses: Challenges and Way Forward.
The meet, on Novermber 19-20 at the Visva Bharati campus is aimed at creating awareness and enhanced research support with the knowledge partner being Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya.
"Pulses are incredibly rich in their nutritional value, they are small but densely packed with protein - double the amount found in wheat and three times that of rice. Pulses are also rich in complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, protein and B-vitamins, which are vital parts of a healthy diet," Sutanu Ghosh, President of the Bengal Chamber said speaking on the objective to hold the conference.

The meet, held in collaboration with the premier academic institutions, was aimed at creating awareness about pulses and their benefits.
"When grown in rotation with other crops, pulses help improve staple crop (e.G. Rice/ wheat / maize) yields by breaking soil-borne pests and disease cycles that afflict these crops," Ghosh said.
The speakers included, Dr, Rajeev Kumar Varshney, Director,Centre of Excellence in Genomics, The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, Dr. Swapan Kumar Dutta, Vice-Chancellor, Visva Bharati University, Dr. D.D. Patra, Vice-Chancellor, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Dr. N.P. Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur among others.