The salt-induced land degradation adversely affects the productivity of ~7.0 Million ha area in India. The sodicity, salinity and related problems have diminished the economic value of ~1.4 Million ha area in Uttar Pradesh alone, posing serious risks to the ecosystem services and farmers’ livelihoods. Bringing such salt-impaired lands under the crop production can greatly contribute to the national efforts towards doubling the farmers’ income and achieving the land degradation neutrality. The salt-tolerant crops and cultivars are increasingly gaining the attention as a reliable and sustainable means to revive the salt-affected soils; given the high and often recurring costs of removing the salt from soil through chemical amendment-based and fresh water-intensive practices. This study was conducted with 21 farmers in five purposively selected Villages (Lazipar, Bibipur, Hasanpur, Chakwa and Bhakura) of Jaunpur District, Uttar Pradesh (2016-2018) with overall aim of empowering the...

The South-Western part of Punjab, India is critically affected by twin menaces of salinity and waterlogging. Furthermore, steadily declining groundwater quality, erratic canal water supply and climate change impacts are seemingly hitting the local livelihoods and natural resources. Alarming increase in irrigation-induced salinity over the past few decades has left a trail of destruction: such as traditional and highly remunerative Kinnow mandarin and cotton-based farming systems in the region have virtually come to a standstill. This has compelled the local farmers to switch over to other land-use systems. This study was conducted over the years 2016-2018 with 34 farmers from 9 salt-affected villages of Fazilka [Mamu Kheda, Kikar Kheda and Kandwalla (Abohar developmental block) and Alamgarh, Saidawali and Saidawali (Baluana developmental block)] and Sri Muktsar Sahib [Panniwala, Bodiwala, Sheranwala and Pind (Malout developmental block)] districts to understand some feasible and...

Smt. Anitha M., a Tribal Woman from Bettampady Village carries out the cultivation of various crops like coconut, arecanut, pepper, paddy, vegetables and maintaining the livestock (cattle, goat, poultry, birds) in her farm under the traditional farming system in her 4.5 acres of farm land. But, the low farm production with poor economic returns due to improper utilization of the farm resources made her look for a sustainable farming system for assured livelihood. Inspired by the Agriculture Officers, Grama Abhivruddhi NGOs and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dakshina Kannada, she took the initiative to adopt the organic practices in her farm. For this, she acquired the required knowledge about organic farming through seminars, books, magazines and newspapers, etc. Smt. Anitha is an active member of the NGO - SKDRDP, Mangalore for promoting the organic farming at the rural farmers’ plots.   Under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Yojana and ZBNF (...

The inter-specific grafting has emerged as a promising tool for increasing the tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, besides enhancing the productivity in vegetables. The dual or multiple grafting is a new technological option, wherein, two or more than two scions of the same family are grafted together to harvest more than one vegetable from a single plant. At ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh after a successful field demonstration of Grafted Pomato (Potato + Tomato), the Dual Grafting of Brinjal and Tomato (Brimato) was demonstrated in the field during 2020-21. The Brinjal Hybrid - Kashi Sandesh and improved cultivar of Tomato - Kashi Aman were successfully grafted into brinjal rootstock - IC 111056. The Grafting Operation was carried out when Brinjal seedlings were 25 to 30 days old and Tomato 22 to 25 days old. The Brinjal Rootstock - IC 111056 has a tendency to develop two branches in around 5% seedlings. The Grafting was done by...

26th September, 2021 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi accolades the Medi-Hub TBI, an Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) hosted at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat in his “Mann Ki Baat” Programme Broadcast on All India Radio today. Commissioned in the Year - 2020 with the financial support from the National Agricultural Innovation Fund (NAIF) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Incubator is first of its kinds to cater the Start-Ups need in the Medicinal & Aromatic Plants hosted at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat. The Prime Minister appreciated the Entrepreneurial initiative of Smt. Sai Sudha Chebrolu from Anand, Gujarat for her herbal farm - M/s Bilvam Jaganmaata Herbals Pvt. Ltd. and Smt. Subashree from M/s ATRI Products from Chennai being Incubated at Medi-Hub, TBI. With its vision for commercializing the Innovations and Start-Ups in the...