3 days ago
Grow heat-tolerant varieties, UP minister urgers farmers
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Varanasi: As part of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025, Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare, Ramnath Thakur, participated in a farmers' dialogue programme organised by the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) at Paniyara village on Wednesday.
During the farmer dialogue, the minister emphasised that scientists should conduct research keeping farmer welfare in mind. He added that farmers trust scientists' advice and scientists are working hard to develop new technologies for farmers through dedicated research. Need is to reach the technologies to farmers and motivate them to adopt them. He also urged scientists to develop new heat-tolerant varieties.
The minister inspected products displayed by FPOs and farmers at an exhibition in which prominent institutions such as IIVR, Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Renew Power took part in the programme that was attended by Sanjay Kumar, director of National Seed Research Institute, distinguished progressive farmer Padma Shri Chandreshkhar, village head, regional public representatives, Naveen Singh, in charge of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and senior officials from state agriculture department.
The minister also inspected the paddy field demonstration of the direct seeded rice method implemented by IRRI at farmer Lallan Dubey's field in Paniyara village. DSR is a sustainable scientific method that helps save water in paddy fields while increasing production and reducing costs.
The minister honoured five selected farmers and provided Digital Soil Health Cards to 10 farmers to help them get instant information about soil quality.
At IIVR campus's 'agricultural waste management unit', Thakur planted a sandalwood sapling as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh, deputy director general (horticulture), ICAR, also planted a tree alongside.
During dialogue with progressive farmers and FPOs, the minister gathered information about IIVR's role in the nationwide Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. Director Rajesh Kumar said that under IIVR's leadership, in coordination with KVKs and state govt's agriculture department, scientists completed dialogue with over 52,000 farmers across six districts in 13 days, which continues unabated. The director also briefed the minister about farmers' problems gathered from scientists.
Major issues addressed included crop damage from nilgai, water crisis, pest management, lack of market access and non-availability of quality seeds. The minister directed quick solutions to these problems.
