AICPMIP holds National Demonstration of Pearl Millet Hybrids at Jodhpur

16-17 September, 2012, Jodhpur

The All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project (AICPMIP), Jodhpur held the National Demonstration of Pearl Millet Commercial Hybrids on 16-17 September, 2012 at Jodhpur. The demonstration included growing of 117 pearl millet commercial hybrids in a large plot under good management. More than 200 participants including policy makers, researchers, plant breeders, states department of agriculture, states seed corporations and national seed corporation observed these hybrids in a compact block. Dr. O.P. Yadav, Project Coordinator (Pearl Millet) highlighted that these demonstrations provided unique opportunity to assess all commercial hybrids of pearl millet simultaneously at one place by all stakeholders.

Dr A.S. Faroda, former Chairman, ASRB addressed the gathering and asked the state seed corporations to play a catalystic  role in production of hybrid seeds developed by ICAR and SAUs to further enhance the pearl millet productivity in the country. At this occasion, Dr. B.S. Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, highlighted that such demonstration provided a whole range of choices in terms of maturity, plant type, seed size and colour and different combinations of grain and dry stover yields.

Dr. R.P. Dua, Assistant Director General (FFC) emphasized the role of hybrids to enhance crop productivity under rainfed conditions particularly in Rajasthan, the state that has more than 50% of pearl millet area in the country. Dr. J.S. Sandhu, Assistant Director General (Seeds) said that demonstrations play a very critical role to educate the farmers and seed production agencies with the latest released hybrids in order to reduce the time gap between hybrid development and its adoption. Dr. M.M. Roy, Director, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Dr. R.C. Gautam, Dr. B.L. Jalali, Dr. A. Seetharm and Dr. R.P. Jangid, Director Research, SK RAU, Bikaner and several state government officials were present. They had a detailed assessment of breeding material developed at AICPMIP, Jodhpur.

(Source: Project Coordinator (Pearl Millet), All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project)