The institute’s role was applauded by other union ministers
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare along with Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare recently visited the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Tomar highlighted that the introduction of new food and fodder crops by the institute and the development of their new climate-resilient cultivars has helped the community to make profitable farming for the last several decades in the Thar Desert. The Union Minister appreciated the OMF (Organo Mineral Fertiliser) by the institute for reducing the import dependency of the country on both phosphatic and potassium fertilisers.
Giriraj Singh applauded the institute’s role in developing the climate-smart farming models, cheaper poly houses, new models of integrated farming and round-the-year fodder production.
Kailash Choudhary stressed the need for the use of new types of agroforestry trees, drought-tolerant horticultural crops, new interventions in water harvesting and the use of solar energy for agricultural operations.
The ministers visited the institute’s various research units including precision farming and poly house cultivation, gum garden, pearl millet breeding block, grass production system, dairy unit, horticulture, water harvesting and fodder production, agri-voltaic system and solar yard, etc. The dignitaries also demonstrated the institute’s efforts in the production of several grass species like Lasiurus sindicus, Cenchurus ciliaries, etc., and their potential to serve the high livestock in the desert districts.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr OP Yadav, Director, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur outlined the works undertaken by the Institute. Dr Yadav also underlined the plans given the forthcoming challenges and opportunities.
