ICAR Regional Committee Meeting (Zone-VI) Organized

16th November 2012, Jodhpur

A two-day Regional Committee Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for Zone VI covering states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu was organized at Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur on November 16-17, 2012. Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, while chairing the meeting, emphasised that the priority needs to be given to conservation of best germplasm of crops and livestock in order to evolve climate resilient varieties. He also underlined the need for conservation and improvement of indigenous livestock breeds. He further urged all the participating Vice-Chancellors, Directors and senior officers of the states that there is a need to prioritize the research and development programmes targeting the farmers' needs. There is need of effective convergence and continuous interaction between research institutions and development departments for effectively addressing the problems of the region, he added .

Dr. M.M. Pandey, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Engineering), ICAR stressed on according priority to the use of drip and sprinkler irrigation and also study of the effective irrigation scheduling under these systems. Further, the package of practices should be developed for protected cultivation under green house.

Dr. K.D. Kokate, Deputy Director General (Ag. Extension) informed that the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are working in every district of the zone to disseminate the improved agricultural technologies to the farmers. There is need to have coordination between the state agricultural universities and research institutes with the KVKs for continuous flow of the latest technologies.

Dr. K.M.L. Pathak, Deputy Director General (Animal Science) and Dr. N.K. Krishna Kumar, Deputy Director General (Horticulture), ICAR also gave their valuable suggestions for the development of animal husbandry and horticulture in the region.

More than 150 senior officers including Vice-Chancellors, Directors, scientists, agricultural officers from Rajasthan and Gujarat and other states participated in the meeting. Dr. M.M. Roy, Director, CAZRI and Member Secretary of the Committee presented the detailed action taken report and proposed vote of thanks.

(Source: CAZARI, Jodhpur)