Welcome
to
International Conference on Pomegranate-2026
"Climate Resilient Pomegranate Ecosystem for Amritkaal: Fostering Sustainability, Innovation & Global Health"


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an ancient fruit crop renowned for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic importance and is globally recognized as a “Superfruit.” In India, pomegranate is cultivated on approximately 2.24 lakh hectares. However, its rapid expansion has led to several critical challenges, including flower and fruit drop, as well as major pests and diseases such as shot hole borer, thrips, bacterial blight, wilt complex, fruit rot, and cercospora fruit spot (Tikri).

To address these emerging issues in pomegranate cultivation and crop protection, the National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP), Solapur and the Society for Advancement of Research on Pomegranate (SARP), Solapur are jointly organizing the International Conference on Pomegranate 2026 during 06–08 September 2026 at Yashada, Pune, Maharashtra (Hybrid Mode), in collaboration with Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri.

The conference theme, "Climate Resilient Pomegranate Ecosystem for Amritkaal: Fostering Sustainability, Innovation & Global Health," aims to bring together scientists, farmers, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss innovations in pomegranate research, identify key research priorities, and develop climate-resilient crop production and protection strategies. The event focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture, farmer prosperity, and inclusive growth, contributing to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.


Conference Themes



01

Pomegranate Genetics, Improvement and Biotechnology

  • Conventional and molecular breeding techniques in pomegranate
  • Advances in biotechnological tools for pomegranate improvement
  • Alternative strategies (Speed breeding, RGA) for pomegranate improvement
02

Climate-Smart Pomegranate Production and Protection

  • Root stocks, clean planting material and innovations in pomegranate propagation for disease free planting material
  • Climate-informed production practices
  • Use of artificial intelligence in pest and disease diagnosis and their management
03

Pomegranate Microbiome and Bio-Inputs

  • Bio-prospecting of microbes for nutrition management
  • Bio-intensive management of pomegranate pests and diseases
  • Role of microbes in residue-free pomegranate production
04

Post-Harvest Handling, Processing and Value Addition

  • Value addition, phytochemicals and emerging processing technologies
  • Strategies and practices to boost pomegranate export
  • Market intelligence
05

Farmer–Researcher–Entrepreneur Interface

  • Farmer’s innovations and indigenous technologies
  • Knowledge transfer and technology dissemination
  • Policy Support & Institutional Framework


Conference Committee

Chief Patron

Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
Secretary, DARE & Director General,
ICAR, New Delhi

Patrons

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh
Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences)
ICAR, New Delhi

Dr. Vilas K. Kharche
Vice Chancellor
MPKV, Rahuri

Convenors

Dr. Rajiv Arvind Marathe
Director
ICAR-NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Prashant S. Bodake
Director of Research
MPKV, Rahuri

Co-Convenors

Dr. K. Dhinesh Babu
Principal Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Sangram Sahebrao Dhumal
Associate Dean & Professor of Horticulture
YCGCA, Karad

Dr. Ranjan Kumar Singh
Principal Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Prakash G. Patil
Principal Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. N. V. Singh
Principal Scientist
IARI, New Delhi

Dr. Subhash Bhalekar
Associate Dean
College of Agriculture, Pune

Organizing Secretaries

Dr. Nilesh Gaikwad
Senior Scientist,
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Manjunatha N
Senior Scientist,
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Somnath Pokhare
Senior Scientist,
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Co-Organizing Secretaries

Dr. Pinky Raigond
Senior Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Shilpa P.
Senior Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Chandrakant Awachare
Senior Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Basana Gowda G.
Senior Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Ramniwas
Senior Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Mallikarjun M.H.
Senior Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Namrata A. Giri
Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Dr. Roopa Sowjanya P
Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

Mr. Rahul Damale
Scientist
NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur

National Advisory Committee
  • Dr. C. D. Mayee – Former Chairman, ASRB, New Delhi
  • Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra – Chairperson, PPV & FRA and Former Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR
  • Dr. Himanshu Pathak – DG, ICRISAT and Former Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR
  • Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS – Chairman, APEDA, GOI
  • Dr. H. P. Singh – Former Vice Chancellor, RAU, Pusa, Bihar & Ex. DDG (HS), New Delhi
  • Dr. A. K. Singh – Ex. Vice Chancellor, CSAUA&T, Kanpur & Ex. DDG (HS), New Delhi
  • Dr. S. K. Malhotra – Vice-Chancellor, Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
  • Dr. Indra Mani – Vice-Chancellor, VNMKV, Parbhani, Maharashtra
  • Dr. Vishnuvardhana – Vice-Chancellor, UHS, Bagalkot, Karnataka
  • Dr. M. V. Dhananjaya – Vice-Chancellor, KSN-UAHS, Shivamogga, Karnataka
  • Dr. V. S. Jaitawat – Vice-Chancellor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
  • Dr. K. Dhanumjaya Rao – Vice-Chancellor, Dr. YSRHU, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
  • Dr. Harminder Singh Baweja – Vice-Chancellor, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh
  • Dr. Sanjay G. Bhave – Vice-Chancellor, BSKKV, Dapoli, Maharashtra
  • Dr. Sharad R. Gadakh – Vice-Chancellor, PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra
  • Dr. V. B. Patel – ADG – Fruit & Plantation Crops, ICAR, New Delhi
  • Dr. Sudhakar Pandey – ADG (Flowers, Vegetables, Spices & Medicinal Plants), ICAR, New Delhi

National Coordination Committee
  • Dr. T. K. Behera – Director, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru
  • Dr. Hanuman Sahay Jat – Director, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur
  • Dr. N. G. Patil – Director, ICAR-NBSS & LUP, Nagpur
  • Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale – Director, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana
  • Dr. Mahendra Kumar Verma – Director, ICAR-CITH, Srinagar
  • Dr. Lakshani Kant – Director, ICAR-VPKAS, Almora
  • Dr. Ashutosh Murkute – Director, MGIRI Wardha & DG (In-charge), NI-MSME Hyderabad
  • Dr. D. K. Ghosh – Director, ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur
  • Dr. Ram Dutta – Director (Acting), ICAR-DOGR, Rajgurunagar, Pune
  • Dr. K. V. Prasad – Director, ICAR-DFR, Pune & Director (Acting), ICAR-NRC for Grapes, Pune
  • Dr. S. K. Roy – Director, ATARI, Pune
  • Dr. M. Prabhakar – Director, ATARI, Bengaluru
  • Dr. J. P. Mishra – Director, ATARI, Jodhpur
  • Dr. K. K. Mondal – Joint Director (Research), ICAR-NIBSM, Raipur
  • Dr. V. L. Benagi – Former Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad
  • Dr. Jyotsana Sharma – Former Director, ICAR-NRCP, Solapur
  • Dr. D. P. Waskar – Former Director of Research, VNMKV, Parbhani
  • Dr. B. N. S. Murthy – Former Horticulture Commissioner, GOI & Former Director, ICAR-IIHR
  • Dr. Ganesh Murthy A. N. – Emeritus Scientist, ICAR-IIHR
  • Sh. Prabhakar Chandane – President, Pomegranate Grower Association of India
  • Sh. Munegowda – President, Karnataka Pomegranate Growers Association
  • Sh. Bhausaheb Kate – Former Vice-President, Maharashtra Pomegranate Growers Association
  • Mr. Anil Patil – Vice President, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Maharashtra
  • Mr. Vilas Shinde – Chairman & Managing Director, Sahyadri Farms, Mohadi, Nashik, Maharashtra
  • IMC Members, ICAR-NRCP, Solapur
  • Mr. Ramachandra Reddy – Progressive Farmer, Bengaluru
  • Mr. Prakash Bafna – Progressive Farmer, Pune
  • Mr. Mahipalsingh Jadeja – Progressive Farmer, Gujarat
  • Dr. K. Sammi Reddy – Director, ICAR-NIASM, Baramati
  • Smt. Vinita Sudhanshu – General Manager, APEDA, GOI
  • Sh. Kapil Meena, IAS – Managing Director, National Horticulture Board, Gurugram
  • Dr. Prabhat Kumar – Horticulture Commissioner, Government of India
  • Shri Suraj Mandhare, IAS – Agriculture Commissioner, Pune, Maharashtra
  • Dr. Sachin Suroshe – Project Coordinator, AICRP on Honeybees & Pollinators, New Delhi
  • Mr. C. P. Gandhi – Joint Director (IS/CPP), NHB, Government of India
  • Shri C. N. Shiva Prakash – Managing Director, KAPPEC, Government of Karnataka
  • Sh. Vilas Renapurkar – I/c Director of Horticulture, Government of Maharashtra
  • Dr. J. Vijaya Rani, IAS – Director of Horticulture, Government of Tamil Nadu
  • Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma – Director of Horticulture, Government of Himachal Pradesh
  • Shri Ramesh Chand Meena, IAS – Director of Horticulture, Government of Gujarat
  • Smt. Shaik Yasmeen Basha, IAS – Director of Horticulture, Government of Telangana
  • Dr. K. Sreenivasulu, IAS – Director of Horticulture, Government of Andhra Pradesh
  • Dr. Indra Choudhary – Director of Horticulture, Government of Rajasthan
  • Sri Ibrahim Maigur, IAS – Director of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka
  • Dr. S. K. Dubey – Former Head, ICAR-IISWC Research Centre, Agra
  • Dr. Akath Singh – Head (PHM), ICAR-CISH, Lucknow
  • Dr. L. R. Tambde – Senior Scientist & Head, KVK Solapur
  • Dr. Manjunath Girigowda – Professor, UHS, Bagalkot
  • Sh. Ramdas Patil – RAC Member, ICAR-NRCP, Solapur
  • Sh. Shahajirao Jachak – Former President, Maharashtra Pomegranate Growers Association
  • Dr. Yogeshwara H. R. – Chairman, Southern Region Pomegranate Growers Association
  • Sh. Nagaraja S. M. – Vice President, Karnataka Pomegranate Growers Association
  • Mr. Prakash Kulkarni – Agriculture Technologist, Krishibondh, Pune
  • Sh. Merama Ram Choudhary – Director, Shiv Kisan Producer Company Ltd., Budiwada, Rajasthan
  • Mr. Bhagwat Uttam Pawar – Progressive Farmer, Malshiras
  • Mr. Ratnaram Chaudhari – Progressive Farmer, Rajasthan
Local Organizing Committee
Chairman

Dr. S. G. Bhalekar
Professor (Hort.), College of Agriculture, Pune


Members

Dr. A. B. Gosavi
Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Pune

Dr. P. U. Raundal
Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Pune

Dr. C. S. Chaudhari
Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Pune

Dr. Y. C. Sale
Professor (Agri. Economics), College of Agriculture, Pune
Mob: 8308428983

Dr. D. B. Lad
Professor, College of Agriculture, Pune


Member Secretary

Pritam Y. Shinde
Assistant Professor,
College of Agriculture, Shivajinagar, Pune


Contact Details

Dr. Manjunatha N.
Mob: 9108206800

Dr. Somnath Pokhare
Mob: 9922100401

Dr. Nilesh Gaikwad
Mob: 7972881002

🏨 Accommodation Options

Hotels near the conference venue

The Ambassador Hotel

📍 1125, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016

🛏️ Rooms:

Room Tariff ₹3,300 - ₹4,500/night
🗺️ View on Google Maps

Hotel Sheetal

📍 1180, Ferguson College Rd, Revenue Colony, Pune, Maharashtra 411005

🛏️ Rooms:

Room Tariff ₹2,000 - ₹3,000/night
🗺️ View on Google Maps

Hotel Ambience - Model Colony

📍 CTS No. 1105/2, Near Telephone Exchange, Lakaki Road, Model Colony, Shivaji Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra

🛏️ Rooms:

Room Tariff ₹4,500 - ₹6,700/night
🗺️ View on Google Maps

YASHADA (Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration)

📍 Apex Training Institute of Maharashtra Government, Pune

📞 Phone: 020-25608354 | Email: mdcdept@yashada.org

🛏️ Rooms:

Guest House Tariff ₹1,600 - ₹2,900/night
🗺️ View on Google Maps

📌 For Conference Participants:

• Direct booking only • Pick-up/drop available from these hotels




Conference Venue

Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA)

Rajbhavan Complex, Baner Road
Armament Colony, Ganeshkhind
Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra – 411007


Contact Details
The Director
ICAR – NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur
Mobile: 9922100401 / 70667976174

Society for Advancement of Research on Pomegranate
Solapur
📱 Mobile: 9108206800, 742093017

Conference Organizing Committee Contact Number
📱 Mobile: 8308428983,9423295619

Technical Support – EventUP Team
support@eventup.in


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