Citrus Field Day Celebration

20th October 2023, Bikaner

ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, organised Citrus Field Day today in collaboration with the Indian Society for Arid Horticulture, State Bank of India and Rasi Seeds Pvt. Ltd.

Shri. Vijay Kumar, Deputy General Manager, State Bank of India, Bikaner, Rajasthan was the Chief Guest of the event. He urged farmers to take advantage of different schemes for agricultural development supported by the bank. He gave information about the bank's schemes like Kisan Samriddhi, agricultural entrepreneurship, and agricultural infrastructure loans, etc.

Shri. Kailash Choudhary, Joint Director Agriculture, Govt. of Rajasthan, Bikaner and Dr. Subhash Chandra Baloda, Director Extension Education, SKRAU, Bikaner were the Special Guests.

Shri. Kailash Chaudhary provided detailed information to the farmers about horticulture schemes like the construction of diggi, solar panels, planting of fruit orchards, fencing etc.

Dr. Baloda said that due to the development of irrigation facilities in dry areas, there is immense potential for the production of citrus fruits. Farmers can get smart profits by adopting advanced technologies developed by CIAH, Bikaner.

Dr. Jagadish Rane, Director, CIAH, Bikaner, welcomed the guests, farmers, and participants. He briefed about the research achievements of the Institute and mentioned that 52 climate-resilient varieties of 32 different fruits and vegetable crops have been developed by the institute for the stakeholders. These varieties not only provide nutritional security in the arid region but also enhance the income of farmers.

Dr. Samadhia, Principal Scientist and Head (I/C) briefed about the horticultural crops dealt with by ICAR-CIAH and prospects for the arid regions.

The Citrus Day gathering provided a platform for farmers to interact with scientists of ICAR and SAUs and also with officers of state agriculture departments and banks.

More than 300 progressive farmers from Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, students, and officials from ICAR institutes, state departments, RAJUVAS and SKRAU, Bikaner participated in the event.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner)