LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, June 7: Agriculture Secretary of Jharkhand Abu Bakr Siddique has stressed on perfecting need-based, easily accessible and affordable farm technologies having operational suitability for poor farmers.
Addressing the 42nd Kharif Research Council meeting of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Tuesday, he said other educational institutions are for dissemination of knowledge but universities are also supposed to negate some of the existing knowledge and continuously work for refinement and innovation.
As the lone far varsity of the state, BAU has done a lot for improving the scenario of the farming sector but the full potential of Jharkhand having a varied climate and rich biodiversity remains to be tapped.
The University has released several improved crop varieties during the last one year but more serious efforts are needed especially in the areas of animal husbandry, floriculture, medicinal plants etc. He said the proposal for granting a pension to BAU pensioners as per the 7th pay package new Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for teachers was progressing in full swing. The department was committed to agricultural advancement of the state in association with BAU, he added.
Eminent rice scientist and former Director of Central Rice Research Institute, Dr BN Singh advocated for taking direct-seeded rice in place of transplanted rice under Jharkhand conditions to effectively meet the challenges posed by uncertainty of rains.
Due to the absence of farm and labour from Bihar and eastern UP during the corona phase, direct-seeded rice was taken in Punjab and Haryana in about 10 lakh hectares and the yield was found similar to that under transplanted conditions, Dr Singh said.
BAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Onkar Nath Singh said the use of frontier technologies like nanotechnology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, ICT and improved package of practices for crop management and protection are being continuously increased for achieving the desired pace in agricultural advancement.
External expert and former Dean of Veterinary Faculty Dr AK Ishwar said due to indiscriminate artificial insemination and cross-breeding with genetically inferior cattle of western origin, production of A1 milk has increased but consumption of this low-quality milk has also led to an increased incidence of high BP and heart ailments in the society. He stressed on increasing the production of A2 milk obtained from the cows of Indian origin.
