Industry Problems-Academia Solutions Conclave (iPAS 2023) Organized

27th – 28th July 2023, New Delhi

Industry Problems-Academia Solutions Conclave (iPAS 2023) was jointly organized by the Delhi Chapter of the Indian Society of Agriculture Engineers, Headquarters Delhi, and ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi from 27-28th July 2023.

The Chief Guest, Dr. K. K. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut said India requires a fast pace of development in almost all sectors and such a high growth rate could only be achieved by the joint efforts of Academia and industries.  

  

Dr. SN Jha, Deputy Director General (Engineering), ICAR and President, ISAE; Dr. A. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Vice Chancellor, ANGARU, Guntur; Shri. A. Vaseeharan, General Manager, NABARD RO Delhi and Dr. Sayed Ismail, Director, SIFA Sanpra Systems Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai were the Guests of Honour and addressed the conclave.

The Conclave attracted more than 200 delegates including 30 Industry partners, three progressive farmers, 2 start-ups and more than 150 academicians/researchers.

The Conclave also showcased industrial products and technologies in the exhibition.

The major recommendations emerged during six technical sessions are as follows:

1.    Academia-industry linkage should facilitate the development of low-cost and farmer-friendly millet machines for better production, processing, storage and export opportunities.

2.    Phase-wise diversification of water-guzzling crops with low water-requiring crops like millets in identified potential zones based on scientific rationale.

3.    Emphasis may be given to micro-irrigation in canal commands, quality enhancement of venture, and automation of surface irrigation system.

4.    Mechanization of the high-value crops and millet with Artificial Intelligence, automation, and robotics technologies and strengthening custom hiring centres.

5.    The problem identification for post graduate and Ph D research on millets should be based on industry and farmers’ fields.

6.    Policy formulation on millets should concentrate on gap between production and consumption zones, horizontal expansion and enhancing productivity through rainwater conservation and sustainable water management practices and promoting startups in millets.

The Chief Guest of the Valedictory function, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairman, PPVFRA, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GOI, and former Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR emphasised the development of need-based technologies led by policy, nurturing young minds to bring out innovative solutions.

The programme was coordinated by Dr. P.S. Brahmanand

Project Director, Water Technology Centre and his team.

(Source: Water Technology Centre, New Delhi)