RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.11: Secretary Agricultural Abu Bakar Siddique P has urged the Birsa Agricultural University administration to constitute a team of best scientists for preparing a strategy document for increasing area under cultivation and crop diversification in Jharkhand. He said all the documents of state government and research institutes suggest that area under cultivation has remained static during the last one decade despite all the efforts and investments by the government and concerned agencies.
Addressing the 41st Rabi Research Council of BAU on Saturday, Secretary Agriculture said the state government would provide the required funds for preparing the strategy document. He stressed that area specific needs, affordability of farmers and user-friendly aspects must be kept in mind while perfecting and recommending technologies.
Siddique also invited suggestions for addition, deletion, modification in the ongoing projects/ schemes of the agriculture department and inclusion of some important projects for the region within a week so that it could be incorporated in the budget of next financial year. Tangible solutions should be suggested for different regions like Kolhan, Palamu, Chhotanagpur, Santhal, he stressed.
BAU Vice Chancellor Dr Onkar Nath Singh, who chaired the meet, stressed on identification of climate smart lines for use as parents for crop improvement. “Special focus is also required on bio-fortification for improving nutritional quality of food crops through agronomic practices, conventional plant bleeding or modern biotechnology as a sizable section of Jharkhand population suffers from malnutrition and undernutrition,” the VC added.
Former chairman of the department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Dr ZA Haider, urged the Secretary Agriculture to immediately initiate effective steps for recruitment of vacant positions of teachers in BAU through JPSC or any other agency. Seven new colleges established some years ago are running without any regular teacher affecting the teaching quality, he said. Haider also stressed that the state government should lift seeds produced by BAU without tender because the institution is a part of the state government. He also suggested that extension machinery of the state government should provide feedback about the problems, priorities and preferences of farmers so that research efforts could be reoriented accordingly.
External expert and former chairman of department of Agronomy Dr Raghav Thakur underlined the need of rainwater harvesting and conservation and development of acid tolerant varieties.
Dr A Wadood, Director Research welcomed the guests and stressed on early implementation of 7th pay package and career advancement scheme for teachers and scientists of BAU as it is the only University in the country devoid of new pay package.
Director Extension (Education) Dr Jagarnath Oraon and Dy Director Research Dr CS Singh also spoke on the occasion. Shashi Singh anchored the event.
A Compendium of Technologies documenting all the crop varieties, animal breeds and technologies developed by BAU during the last four decades was released on the occasion. Nine scientists- Drs ZA Haider, Sohan Ram, Mani Gopa Chakraborty, Niraj Kumar, Nutan Verma, Chandra Shekhar Mahto, Arun Kumar, Surya Prakash and Abdul Majid Ansari were felicitated with memento, shawl and certificate for crop variety development.
