An international symposium on Papaver began at Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in a well attended function organized in the evening in which  foreign and Indian  delegates and scientists were present . Prof. Ram Rajasekharan, Director CIMAP and Chairman Organising Committee welcomed the delegates . Dr. G. Finetto (Italy) and Dr. SP Singh (India) opened the symposium.

In this symposium twelve international delegates are participating from different countries i.e. Italy, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Turkey, Ukraine etc. During the technical sessions of the symposium , the  participants will be deliberating  on the various  aspects of Papaver including Genetic Resources and Crop Improvement, Agro-technology, Crop Husbandry, Plant Protection, Medicinal and Industrial Uses, Poppy in Culture and History. On this occasion a morphine rich variety of opium poppy named CIMAP-Ajay was also released which contains about double the amount of morphine as compared to other existing variety. It also gives high straw and seed yield . The variety was developed by Dr RK Lal and his colleagues at CIMAP.

It may be mentioned that Papaver somniferum commonly known as opium poppy is the source of opium and opium alkaloids. The opium poppy is also known and widely utilized by human as a medicinal and food plant since time immemorial. In addition to its medicinal uses, the opium poppy plant is also a valuable source of edible seeds and seed oil.

About 25 oral presentations will be made by the delegates in 8 technical sessions on 8th and 9th February besides poster presentations by the delegates.

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