10th August 2023, Jodhpur
A three-day Science Walk was held today at the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute in Jodhpur to showcase food production systems in arid regions. The walk included visiting research and demonstration blocks at the institute's 400-acre research farm. The event showcased various agricultural innovations, including field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, soil conservation, water harvesting, and recycling, for stakeholders.
A special attraction was held on Millets Block to celebrate the International Year of Millets – 2023. Three major millets (pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet) and five minor millets (foxtail millet, proso millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, and little millet) were grown. Visitors were introduced to the better nutritional profile, low water requirement, and climatic resilience of millets.
Spectroradiometer measurement in the crop field was demonstrated for quantifying carbon and water footprint of arid region crops. Introduction of new perennial species of Melia dubia and Gmelina arborea along with pearl millet and mungbean were new interventions to augment resilience to climatic stresses and total farm income.
The management of seed production plots for food legumes and arid grasses, as well as research interventions in perennial crops, were appreciated. An integrated farming system, incorporating annual crops, multi-purpose trees, grasses, medicinal plants, horticultural crops, and drought-adapted grasses, provided round-the-year income.
(Source: ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur)
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