Agricultural Contingencies in Kharif 2015 for Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW:  ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) along with Department of Agriculture Cooperation (DAC), GoI and Uttar Pradesh State Department of Agriculture organized contingency preparedness interface meeting with various stakeholders on Friday at Krishi Bhavan, Lucknow. UP.

The objective of the meeting was to appraise the seasonal monsoon forecast for Uttar Pradesh and to prepare the action plans based on available district contingency plans in the eventuality of deficient rainfall during kharif 2015 season based on IMD monsoon forecast.

This interface meeting was chaired by A.M. Prasad, IAS, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Govt. of UP and co-chaired by  A.K. Bishnoi, Director of Agriculture.  CP Srivastava, DDA (Seed & Farms) presented the impact of contingency plans in 2014 deficit monsoon season and also the action plan for 2015.  Prasad acknowledged the efforts made by CRIDA and SAUs for developing the contingency plans and assured that every effort will be made to implement them.

Dr. VUM Rao, Project Coordinator (Agromet), CRIDA emphasized the need for better preparedness at the district level for likely scenarios of delay in monsoon onset and deficit rainfall situations vis-a-vis the El Nino. Dr Y.G. Prasad, PI, NICRA-TDC shared the successful resilient technologies of NICRA and AICRP Dryland Agriculture Project applicable to several districts in Uttar Pradesh.

The discussions focused on seed availability of short duration paddy varieties and contingent crops mainly sesame, bajra and pigeonpea. The NICRA success story on staggered community nursery in Bihar was appreciated by the participating farmers and the department will explore the possibility of similar intervention in the paddy growing areas of UP.

Senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh State Department of Agriculture and line Departments participated in the deliberations and also presented the district action plans for implementing alternate crops and cropping systems. Representatives of NRM division, SAUs, ICAR research institutes, Zonal Project Directorate, PCs of KVKs, Scientists from AICRPDA and AICRPAM, representatives from seed sector provided their inputs.

The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Dr Mohammed Osman, CRIDA.