Vice-President of India visits ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur

“There is a need to test the technologies developed in laboratories on the farmer’s field and demonstrate their benefits to the community”, said Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice-President of India. Shri Naidu was on his visit to the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan today.

The Vice-President was accompanied by Shri Kalraj Mishra, Governor of Rajasthan; Dr. B.D. Kalla, Minister for Energy, Government of Rajasthan and Shri Rajendra Gehlot, Member, Rajya Sabha.

Reviewing the Institute’s various research activities, Shri Naidu applauded the ICAR-CAZRI’s efforts for developing the working models of smart agriculture, cheaper polyhouses, systems of integrated farming, agri-voltaic, Silvi-pasture, round-the-year fodder production through water harvesting and use of solar energy for agricultural operations. The Institute’s initiatives for developing and deploying the improved and high yielding, drought-tolerant and disease-resistant varieties of Pearl Millet, Green Gram, Moth Bean, Cluster Bean, Grasses, Pomegranate, Ber, Gonad and Karonda using the conventional and molecular breeding tools were also lauded by the Vice-President.

Shri Naidu stated that the alternate feed resources developed by the Institute are helping in economizing the cost of livestock production. He also stressed on the efforts that are needed for integrating the traditional wisdom available to farmers with the modern technologies developed by the scientists to ensure sustainability of farming. The Vice-President emphasized on the need for practicing integrated farming with diversification of agriculture and allied activities like dairying, backyard poultry and horticulture to ensure economic cushioning in the event of failure of one or the other components of farming.

The urgent need for strengthening the farming community, rather than making them dependent was also emphasized in the Vice-President’s address.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. O.P. Yadav, Director, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur briefed about the Institute’s history, mandate and significant achievements.

(Source: ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan)