Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar interacted with farmers and scientists at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur

7th October 2023,  Jodhpur

Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar interacted with farmers and scientists in ‘Farmers-Scientist Interaction’ event organized at ICAR-CAZRI Jodhpur today. He called upon farmers to adopt the business model for their produces for better livelihood. He narrated how agriculture and agri-business have become preferred profession and called upon farmers to engage their children and other family members in agriculture-related business. He cited the examples of growing need of value-added products all over the world and highlighted that farmers should engage themselves through FPOs and other government schemes to fetch greater profit. Hon’ble Vice President highlighted that the farmers contribute a lot to the country's economy as agricultural produce is the biggest market. The country has become self-reliant in food production due to the hard work of farmers and technologies developed by agricultural scientist with policy makers also playing pivotal role.  Vice President also planted a sapling to highlight role of trees in arid regions.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar addressing the audience in virtual form said that like water, the agriculture is also the basis of life and our existence. He stressed upon Prime Minister’s call for proactive actions to increase the income of farmers. He  urged farming community to take advantages of several important schemes launched by Union Government like, PM Fasal Bima, PM Kisan Samridhi , Kisan credit card, FPO etc. He took pride of various activities undertaken by CAZRI and other ICAR institutes to transform this sandy desert area into productive lands for crops, horticulture and vegetables. He added that such changes are contributing to the socio-economic upliftment of small and marginal farmers. He stated that millet growers from Rajasthan and its surrounding states will avail the benefits Union Government’s focused action that has increased the demand of millet crops as well as value added millet products. Efforts have been made to increase the use of millets and its products especially, during the year round programs - International Year of Millets-2023 and the G-2O summit.

Union Jal Shakti Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted CAZRI’s effective contribution in the field of sand dune stabilization in the desert resulting in the reduce number of sandstorms. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Kailash Choudhary appreciated contribution of CAZRI in developing and deploying new technologies in arid regions. He mentioned increased use of drones in farming will usher in enormous change in management of agricultural operations.

Shri Rajendra Gehlot, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Smt. Suryakant Vyas MLA also graced the occasion Earlier,  Dr. O.P. Yadav, Director, ICAR-CAZRI briefed about institute’s research outcomes in introducing new crops and cultivars, managing soil and water, and supplying improved seed and quality planting material have added new dimensions to the agriculture in arid areas.

About 3000 farmers and agri-entrepreneurs participated in the Krishi Kisan Samvad program.

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