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Enhancing the Preparedness for Agricultural Contingencies in Kharif 2015 for Rajasthan

JAIPUR: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) along with Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), GoI, and Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan organized contingency preparedness interface meeting with various stakeholders on Friday  at Pant Krishi Bhavan, Jaipur.

The purpose of the meetings was   to sensitize the various stakeholders on the ensuing kharif season with regard to the forecast of seasonal monsoon 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  Ashok Sampath Ram, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, (Agriculture), Govt of Rajasthan.  Sampath Ram advised the divisional and district officials to assess the short duration seed requirement and necessary actions to be taken to stock in sufficient quantity for distribution among the farming community. He emphasized on the need for planning at district level based on weather information and advised to focus on rain fed areas in each district.

Dr. VUM Rao, CRIDA while explaining the purpose of the interface meeting, informed the availability of contingency plans for about 580 districts across India and emphasized the need for operationalization of contingency plans. He also appraised about the revised forecast made by the India Meteorological Department. Weekly rainfall forecasts for Rajasthan, made by IMD, for the month of June were also shared with department officials. He stressed the need for preparing action plans for each district based on weather information to minimize  rainfall deficits in districts..

Discussions were held on action plans for each division presented by divisional officials to meet contingency scenarios and suggestions were made. One major recommendation was to promote in-situ conservation measures (both land and soil management practices) and intercropping systems extensively  in rain fed districts. Emphasis was made on procuring seed cum ferti drills with suitable machines for creation of conservation furrows/ broad bed furrows which effectively complete sowing in a narrow sowing window coupled with creation of in-situ conservation measure.

The meeting was attended by Dr OP Gill, Vice Chancellor, MPUAT, Udaipur,   Kuldeep Ranka IAS, Secretary and Commissioner, Dept. of Agriculture, Directors of ICAR Institutes located in Rajasthan, Director of Research/ Director of Extension of different state agricultural universities in Gujarat, Representatives from Seed Corporation, Divisional and District Heads of Agriculture Department, Director ATMA, Zonal Project Director, Project Coordinators of KVKs, and CRIDA-Agricultural Contingency Cell (ACC) scientists.

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

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