6th December, 2019, Jodhpur
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Science and Health & Family Welfare launched the Department of Science & Technology funded “Water Innovation Programme” at the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur today.
The Minister emphasized that the new Water Innovation Programme would help to develop the new technologies for reducing the water evaporation losses and increasing the water use efficiency in water deprived arid region of the country.
He also visited the different experimental sites at the research farm, viz., agri-voltaic farming, sewage treatment plant, animal fodder block and export oriented pomegranate production. During his visit to the Agri-Voltaic System (AVS), Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged to develop such models in the different parts of the country for harnessing the abundantly available solar energy to produce electricity from the land. It might also suitable for farming as well.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan also visited the Napier hybrid (Co-4) growing field with rainwater harvested from roof top of nearby buildings. He applauded the model of export oriented pomegranate orchard. He emphasized that such self-sustained orchards with respect to water and energy are the need of the hour.
During his visit to the waste water treatment plant, the Minister was apprised about the production of 2,000 quintals of green fodder from 0.6 ha land by the usage of treated water. The land had a market produce having a market value of Rs. 4,00,000 sufficient for 35 cattle.
Earlier, Dr. O.P. Yadav, Director, ICAR-CAZRI highlighted about the major problems of uncertain and very low rain, high temperature, low soil fertility and other limited resources being faced by the farmers of the arid region. He stressed that the DST Sponsored Water Innovation Programme will provide new technologies. Dr. Yadav emphasized that the use of these modern technologies along with traditional farming will enhance the farmers’ income and also sustain the arid ecosystem.
The project will be implemented in four arid districts i.e. Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner with the help of six national Institutes ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur; ICAR-IISWC, Dehradun; NIH, Roorkee; ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner; ICAR-CSWRI RRS, Bikaner and NIAM, Jaipur. The ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur will work as Lead Centre for the programme.
(Source: ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur)
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