Experts deliberate on farm issues during ICAR meet at PAU

Ludhiana, November 17, 2014: The farm experts from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi delved on various agriculture issues during the XXIII meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Regional Committee V at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The two-day meet was jointly organized by PAU and Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal. About 125 senior officers including agricultural secretaries of the states, Vice-Chancellors of agricultural/veterinary universities, Deputy and Assistant Director Generals, Directors of different institutes, Heads of Regional Stations of ICAR Institute, non-governmental agencies, and progressive farmers participated in the meet. 

Chairing the meet, Dr S. Ayyappan, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India, and Director General, ICAR, New Delhi said, “The food basket states of Punjab and Haryana, with only 2.9 per cent of nation’s geographical area, contribute more than one-fifth of country’s food grain production including 20% rice and 30% wheat.” He emphasised on moving from Green Revolution to Evergreen Revolution. Further, Dr Ayyappan stressed on focusing on crop diversification, climate change issues, quality seed production of different crops, rainwater harvesting, sub-surface drainage, bio-drainage, food safety, development of salinity tolerant varieties, and improvement in livestock and fishery sectors. Development of resource conservation technologies, and innovative nutrient and water management practices also call for the attention of experts, he added.  Expressing concern over paddy straw burning, power generation and ground water issues, Dr Ayyappan underlined the need to promote conservation agriculture. To maintain soil health, he suggested that farmers should be provided with soil health cards. He called upon the farm experts to give a new paradigm shift to all the Kirshi Vigyan Kendras through cyber extension. 

The Nodal Officer, Dr KML Pathak, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, said that the problems of increasing input costs, declining water table, groundwater contamination, increasing soil salinity/alkalinity, and heavy metals toxicity in groundwater need to be addressed. Besides, he also highlighted the major breakthroughs, made by NDRI, in the field of cloning.  

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU said, “Population is increasing and resources are decreasing.” To meet the future farm challenges, especially, of climate variability, close linkages and scientific interactions among state departments, ICAR and state agricultural universities are essential, he added.

The Member Secretary of the meet, Dr DK Sharma, Director, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal said that all aspects of agriculture including crop science, animal science, fisheries, farm engineering, agricultural education, extension and horticulture were deliberated on by the experts, Later, he proposed the vote of thanks.

On the occasion, several progressive farmers from various states were honoured.

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