Webshop on “Challenges posed by COVID-19 Pandemic on Production Mechanization and Way Forward” organized

8^th June, 2020, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh organized a Web-based Workshop (Webshop) on “Challenges Posed by COVID-19 Pandemic on Production Mechanization and Way Forward during and post COVID-19 Era” today.

Dr. K. Alagusundaram, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Engineering), ICAR address emphasized the need of mechanization and proper planning of activities for sustainable agricultural production during the COVID-19 situations. The DDG urged the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Projects and the State Governments to address the region specific problems in the current scenario.

Dr. S.N. Jha, ADG (PE) stressed on the need to reorient the future research works towards automations in agricultural operations using robotics, Internet of Things, sensor networks, etc. He urged for developing the expertise in the frontier areas of research. Dr. Jha also suggested bringing mechanization related activities under MGNREGA scheme to ensure employment of skilled labourers migrated at their native places.

Dr. Kanchan K. Singh, ADG (Farm Engineering), ICAR stressed on the need for converting the challenges into opportunities. He opined for taking the skill development programmes at a faster pace to generate employment for the migratory labor. Dr. Singh accentuated to prepare a detailed region specific plan for the all round mechanization of the country.

At the outset, Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE highlighted the change experienced in the last 2-3 months due to COVID 19 outbreak and subsequent development taking place in different aspects of life, especially, the effect of labor migration on agriculture in different parts of the country.

The region specific issues and strategies were discussed during these presentations and guidelines were formulated for the national and region specific interventions.

More than 135 participants from different State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes participated in the Webshop.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh)