Latest news with #AICRP
Hans India
18-07-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Training programme held for farmers
Kurnool: Crop diversification in agriculture is the need of the hour. A training programme was organised at KVK Banavasi for farmers of Kurnool district. The programme was organised under the 'Mandatory Capacity Building for Extension of Pilot Project on Crop Diversification on Integrated Farming System.' It was funded by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, AICRP. Dr Tejeswara Rao, Co-Principal Investigator of the project informed that crop diversification in agriculture involves growing different types of crops to increase agricultural resilience to climate change, improve soil health, reduce losses and increase income, often shifting from monoculture to crop mix and adopting integrated farming systems. Dr K Raghavendra Chowdhury, Programme Coordinator, in his address, stressed the need for soybean and bajra cultivation to increase soil fertility and farmer profitability. Dr P Sujathamma, Principal Scientist and Coordinator, DAATTC, Kurnool, explained about value addition for improved agricultural systems. Value addition in agricultural systems means converting raw agricultural products into complete or semi-finished goods, increasing their economic value, benefiting farmers through higher incomes and creating employment opportunities.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Himalayan Forest Research Institute holds workshop on All India Coordinated Research Projects
The Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI) organised a day-long workshop in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla on Thursday (July 17, 2025) to discuss the outcomes and project completion reports of the recently concluded All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) related to establishing a fodder bank, poplar trees, and wild edible fruit trees. AICRP is a network of research initiatives started by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to address research problems and avoid duplication of research work across the country on emerging themes and important forestry species. ICFRE is an apex body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which undertakes forestry research, education, and extension activities at the national level through its regional research institutes located in different parts of the country. Sanjay Sood, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh, said the ICFRE and HFRI have recently completed three research projects regarding 'fodder bank, poplar, and wild edible fruits' that are vital from the point of view of the State of Himachal Pradesh. 'Since fodder is a very important component for the cattle, the establishment of a fodder bank can play an important role in the animal husbandry sector. Similarly, conservation and cultivation of wild edible fruit trees can also be useful in tackling the problem of monkey menace prevalent in Himachal Pradesh and addressing the problem of human-animal conflict. Poplars are useful for their rapid growth, timber production and environmental benefits, are used in agroforestry, provide wood for various industries, and play a vital role in carbon sequestration and soil stabilisation,' he said, inaugurating the workshop. Mr. Sood said he was optimistic that the outcome of these research projects would prove useful to the stakeholders as well as policymakers in formulating policies for the future.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
With PAU's remote driven paddy transplanter, no need to enter fields.
Ludhiana: The two wheel, walk-behind paddy transplanters, though widely used, demand intense manual effort, especially under puddled field conditions where temperatures range between 38-44°C and humidity exceeds 70%. The operators often walk more than 20 km a day in puddled fields, frequently repositioning the machine every row and then, leading to significant fatigue and discomfort. To mitigate this drudgery, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has come up with a remotely controlled transplanter that allows the operator to control the machine from a safe, dry, and shaded location, significantly improving comfort. The new system for transplantation of rice through smart mechanization has been developed by the department of farm machinery and power engineering at PAU under the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) and the All-India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture and Allied Sectors (ESAAS) with the aim of addressing the ergonomic and operational difficulties of conventional paddy transplanting. It is possible to operate it remotely, standing comfortably outside the puddled field by steering the machine with ease using a wireless remote. As per university field evaluations, the innovation increased field capacity by 10-12% due to consistent operating speed, reduced operator fatigue by a staggering 85%, and cut down total labour requirements by 40%. These improvements translated into a net profit gain of 5-15%, making the system economically and physically more viable. Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, PAU vice-chancellor, said the university had established the School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA) to accelerate the adoption of digital solutions in farming. Dr. Manjit Singh, dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, PAU, gave the details for promoting widespread adoption of the new machine. They stated that the university had conducted several demonstrations and exhibitions at kisan melas, field days, and exposure visits over the past year. The new invention was also lauded by Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his recent visit at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Patiala, where its demonstration was given. He lauded Punjab Agricultural University's pioneering efforts in sensor-based automation for paddy transplantation. He stressed upon the need to make such innovations widely accessible, especially to small and marginal farmers, to reduce labour fatigue and boost on-field efficiency. Dr ML Jat, director general of ICAR, present there also also applauded PAU's forward-thinking approach.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Stingless bees can increase crop yields by 29%, shows Nagaland University research
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, researchers at Nagaland University have been able to demonstrate how stingless bees can boost crop output and quality through pollination -- without the stinging to the research, fruit set in king chilli increased to 29.46% from 21% with these bees as the the common chilli (Capsicum annuum), fruit development in healthy condition increased by nearly 8%, and seed weight, an indicator of enhanced germination, increased by over 60%.advertisementThe team, led by Dr Avinash Chauhan, All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Honeybees & Pollinators' Principal Investigator, discovered that the two species of stingless bees, namely Tetragonula iridipennis and Lepidotrigona arcifera, not only improved fruit production but also improved seed viability in chilli and king IS THIS RESEARCH IMPORTANT? Dr Chauhan further stated that this technique is meant to fill the gap of pollination in crops, especially where honeybee use is emphasised the need to preserve other pollinators like Apis dorsata, Apis florea, halictid and syrphid bees. Honey being extracted from stingless bees as part of a study conducted by Nagaland University advertisement"The last 7 to 10 years of research gave us strong results. We not only had more crop yields, but the honey from these bees also generated extra income," Dr Chauhan added."We're working on improving beekeeping practices and promoting awareness regarding the conservation of wild pollinators," he crops on which the research was carried out are cucumber, watermelon, citrus, tomato, brinjal, and dragon isolated and duplicated stingless bee colonies from forest areas native to them into scientific hives and then these hives were planted in open fields as well as greenhouses. ABOUT STINGLESS BEESStingless bees are widespread in the North East, South and Eastern parts of India. Scientific domestication of stingless bees has been done in Nagaland and subsequently extended to Meghalaya and Arunachal research is an important step towards sustainable agriculture and conservation of pollinators. Future research will further explore the pharmaceutical value of stingless bee honey and examine other lesser-researched crops like passion fruit and chow chow.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: PAU bags best centre award for seed technology research
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been conferred with the best centre award for its outstanding contributions in seed technology research under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Seed (Crops). The honour was presented by ML Jat, director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), during the inaugural session of the Virtual Annual Group Meet held on May 14 to 15. This national recognition highlights the varsity's role in strengthening the seed sector through research and innovative technologies. Among the key achievements that earned PAU the top honour are the optimisation of grading sieve aperture sizes for new crop varieties, improved crop establishment through advanced seed treatment techniques, development of molecular markers for hybrid purity testing, revalidation of seed certification periods for field crops, and the standardisation of diagnostic methods to detect seed-borne pathogens. Apart from its research breakthroughs, PAU's seed unit has been instrumental in producing and supplying high-quality breeder, foundation, and certified seeds. These seeds meet the demands of farmers and seed agencies across Punjab, contributing to improved crop performance and overall agricultural productivity.
