ICAR Organizes Workshop to Develop Roadmap for sustainable growth in Agriculture of East Coast Plains and Hills Region

29^th October 2015, Chennai

Indian Council of Agricultural Research organized a one-day interactive workshop for developing a road map for identifying the issues and providing effective technological support to the farmers in  ‘East Coast Plains and Hills Regions’ of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (Agro Climatic Zone-XI) at ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai.

Dr. A. K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension & Fisheries), ICAR chaired the workshop. In in his address, he urged farmers to flag off their field level issues and problems related to crop, livestock and fishery production systems, farm technologies and extension services. He has suggested prioritized planning and problem solving with special references to natural calamities, salinisation, quality feed and seed. He also stressed the need to initiatives on Farmers producing companies with focus on selected commodities such as Milk in the case of Tamil Nadu, cold chains for the storage of agricultural commodities, water conservation and integrated development of fish farming in this important region.

Dr. K.K. Vijayan, Director, CIBA and Nodal Officer of the workshop, in his presentation, highlighted the status and major issues confronting livestock and fisheries sectors in the zone. He highlighted the importance of sustainable mode of farming, integrating the three important production sectors, viz., the Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fisheries.  Further, he suggested to adopt novel farming models such as integrated multitrophic farming systems, family farming, etc, to achieve increased production and nutritional safety.

Dr. Sreenath Dixit, Director, ATARI, Bengaluru, Co-Nodal Officer of the workshop elaborated on initiatives being undertaken by ATARI and KVKs for implementation of ICAR new schemes, like ‘Mera Gaon, Mera Gaurav’ and ‘Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture’ (ARYA).

Progressive farmers from various districts of the Zone participated in the workshop and put forth their specific problems and issues which need attention and solution. Recurrent droughts and water availability, limited availability of quality seeds of suitable crop and animal varieties, limited labour availability for farming and need of mechanisation, loss of crops by wild animals and need of location specific integrated farming systems were some of major issues deliberated upon.

The Directors and senior officials from ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural, Animal Science, and veterinary universities and KVKs of the region participated in the workshop and offered their inputs for suitable solution to specific problems of the farmers and the need of a common platform where farmers, state governments, ICAR and the central government can work together.

The ICAR has planned such interactive workshops in all 15 agro-climatic zones, covering the entire country.  A road map for sustainable agricultural development of the region will be developed based on the outcome of the workshop. The road map will necessarily  include identification of technological interventions which need to be up scaled  and extension and demonstration services for up scaling and out scaling. Future thrust area of research and extension for the region will also be identified.

Earlier, Dr.S.D.Singh, Assistant Director General (Inland Fisheries), ICAR welcomed the gathering and underscored the importance of the workshop in accelerating sustainable agricultural development in the Zone.

Dr. Sreenath Dixit, Director, ATARI, Bengaluru proposed vote of thanks.

(Source: ICAR-CIBA, Chennai)