Academia-Industry Interaction Meet on Agricultural Mechanization

3^rd May 2016, Pune

ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), Bhopal organized an Academia-Industry Interaction meet today to create a common platform for various ICAR Institutes, Agricultural Universities and leading agricultural machinery manufacturers in Maharashtra to discuss the innovative technologies and mechanisation needs in the state.

Over 60 agricultural machinery manufacturers and their representatives actively participated in the meet. In addition to Director, CIAE, Bhopal, the leading participants included three directors of ICAR Institutes, from Floriculture, Onion and Garlic and Grapes, and 33 academia representatives from MPKV, Rahuri, Department of Agriculture, Govt of Maharashtra, Maharashtra State Agro Industrial Development Corporation, Mumbai.

Dr KP Vishvanatha, Vice Chancellor, MPKV, Rahuri was the chief guest of the meet. In his address, he highlighted challenges to provide cost effective and timely solutions to labour problems faced by the farming community to achieve higher production and income.

Dr VM Mayande, Former VC, PDKV, Akola and Dr KD Kokate, Director Extension Education, MPKV, Rahuri stressed the point that several hundred technologies are already available in the National Agricultural Research System which need to be commercialised through the manufacturers to make them available to farmers expeditiously.

Dr KK Singh, Director, CIAE, Bhopal expressed his satisfaction in the gesture of the manufacturers from Maharashtra being present in considerable numbers to make the meet a success. He informed the house that CIAE, Bhopal is capable of extending all supports in providing training, technical expertise in production development and also testing of farm machinery. Increase of women labour in the Agricultural Sector requires a rethink from the manufacturers to develop simple, gender-friendly and ergonomic tools and machinery.

Shri DK Suryagan, Dy General Manager, MAIDC, Mumbai explained the procurement of agricultural machinery under the subsidy programme of the Govt of Maharashtra.

The meet was organized in association with Mahatma Phule KrishiVidyapeeth, Rahuri, AIAMMA, Pune Chapter and Maharashtra State Agro Industrial Development Corporation, Mumbai.

Some of the salient recommendations which emerged after the active interaction of academia and industry are:

• Development of high capacity power operated machinery to be taken up by CIAE, Bhopal in collaboration with manufacturers
• Several issues related to testing of agricultural machinery such as testing fee, time taken for testing etc need to be addressed
• Creation of custom-hiring hubs for easy availability of high capacity machines
• Establishment of skill development centres for fabrication and operation, maintenance and repair of agricultural machinery