ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur celebrates 63rd Foundation Day

1^st October, 2021, Jodhpur

The ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan celebrated its 63^rd Foundation Day today.

In his address, the Chief Guest, Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare appreciated the ICAR-CAZRI’s significant impact in delivering the improved technologies related to natural source conservation and management; in providing seeds of improved varieties of Guar, Moong & Moth and seedlings of Ber, Khejri, Kumbat, Anar, Gunda & Aonla, etc. The Minister urged the scientists for further strengthening the R&D activities to promote the income-based agriculture for making the farmer self-supporting.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. Abhimanu Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University highlighted the medicinal properties of plants from the Arid areas. He also highlighted that the work done by the Institute on medicinal plants validates the relationships of agriculture and Ayurveda.

In his Lecture on “Pastoralism - A Resilient Livelihood System under Desert Ecosystem”, Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority, New Delhi highlighted the importance of grasslands in the Arid Zone not only for productivity of livestock but also for providing livelihood and social security to herders.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. O.P. Yadav, Director, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur apprised that this year a record seed production of crops ensured the timely distribution of quality seeds and planting materials of horticultural and agroforestry species to the farmers.

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