ICAR to promote farming of maize, mustard, and moong
text_fieldsChandigarh: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be promoting the cultivation of maize, mustard, and moong "in a big way" across the country. Deputy Director General A.K. Singh said modern technology will be adopted in the agriculture sector in the near future.
The organisation is planning on favouring crop diversification. Speaking at an ICAR consultation meeting in Chandigarh, Singh said the country should shift focus from wheat and rice to 3Ms - maize, moong, and mustard. "They can help the country to attain self-sufficiency and enhance the income of farmers."
Director ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) Rajbir Singh observed that this is the first time a national-level consultation meeting is being organised in association with a private sector. "I hope the recommendations will help farmers in overcoming the issue of pests and various crop diseases."
Subhash Chander, ICAR-NCIPM Director, said farmers will benefit immensely by adopting integrated pest management techniques. "It needs to be adopted holistically." Sujay Rakshit, ICAR-IIMR Director, backed the ideas and said diversification of crops is the need of the hour, and cultivation of short-duration crops will also help farmers in a big way.
Several agriculture scientists from 33 Krishi Vidyalaya Kendras and ICAR took part in the meeting organised in association with agri-input company Dhanuka Group. Policymakers, industry players, and farmers were also in attendance.
R.G. Agarwal, Chairman of the Dhanuka Group, said the country needs to adopt integrated crop management practices and use modern technology. He also emphasised quality inputs.