Workshop on Convergence Platform of CSISA organized jointly by ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, CSISA and OUAT, Bhubaneswar

16th June, 2023, Bhubaneswar

A Workshop on the Convergence Platform of CSISA was jointly organized by ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia, Bhubaneswar, and Directorate of Extension Education, OUAT at Bhubaneswar today. The aim of the workshop was to converge towards common goal of bridging the yield gaps and to develop a consensus in promoting demand driven research and extension within Odisha and West Bengal.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, DAFE, Govt. of Odisha in his address stressed the need for sharing and exchange of need-based training materials with the Government Department and other extension agencies on assessment and mutual interest in Kharif season. He further added that sharing monthly /Bi-monthly messages on key interventions and the development of catalogue of messages for farmers’ use is also important. He called for the expansion of the gender-based workstream through backstopping by the SAUs, Research Institutes and KVKs. There is an urgent need for joint participation and presentation of outcomes in the state planning meeting of Kharif and Rabi seasons, he added.

Prof. P.K. Rout, Vice Chancellor, OUAT, and Chairman of the session appreciated the convergence among all the stakeholders for a better agriculture in Odisha and West Bengal. He advocated conducting on farm trials and on-farm research on maize in selected districts of Odisha for its replication in the entire state/region. He also underlined the need to popularize millet cultivation in the state followed by highlighting the problem of soil acidity in the state. He urged to involve PG students in the LDS program for exposure and also to involve other students in agriculture development programs.

Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ATARI, Kolkata, and Convener emphasized that the synergy between policymakers, researchers, and field functionaries is essential for the inclusion of suitable technology in Government policies. He added that such joint efforts are being proposed through the creation of a network of all partners including ICAR institutes through ATARIs, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), KVKs, and public as well as private sector-based input sector for evidence-based data generation in selected districts. He added that a landscape diagnostic survey has the potential to generate good data to take up further research strategy and also to convince policy makers.

Dr. R.K. Malik, Country Coordinator, CSISA-CIMMYT told that this model has been piloted in three states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. He suggested for joint evaluation of technologies in a few districts before releasing them based on the consensus of joint demonstrations. He highlighted about the predominance of MTU 7029 rice varieties, excess / lower dose of N application, less use of P and K in Odisha, non-preference of farmers towards rice hybrids, and the importance of farm mechanization in rice, maize and pulses for better yield and cost minimization.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)