ICAR Organizes Workshop to Develop Road Map for Services to Farmers in Agro-Climatic
Zone-X
21st October, 2015, Hyderabad
Indian Council of Agricultural Research organized a workshop for Developing a Road Map for Technological Support.
Extension and Demonstration Services to the Farmers in Southern Plateau & Hill Region (Agro-climatic Zone-X) at
ICAR- Indian Institute of Oilseed Research(IIOR), Hyderabad.
Dr. K. M. L. Pathak, Deputy Director General (Anima Science), ICAR chaired the workshop and, in his address,
invited farmers to put forth their problems related to production systems, field technologies and extension
modules. Elaborating on the objectives of workshop, he said, on the basis of interactions with farmers and further
deliberations with scientists, recommendations will made for overall agricultural development of the zone with
primary focus on sustainable income of farmers. This will also help prioritization of researchable issues and
identification of new areas which need immediate attention by scientific institutes and policy makers alike.
Enhancing income and livelihood security of small and marginal farmers is our major concern, he added. Chairman
also addressed a Press meet in which print and electronic media participated.
Dr. K.S. Varaprashad, Director, IIOR and nodal officer of the workshop, in his presentation, highlighted major issue
confronting agriculture in this zone which comprises interior Deccan and parts of southern Maharashtra, greater
parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and uplands from Adilabad to Madurai. He said, this
zone predominately depends on rainfed farming(80%) in which fluctuations of climatic condition and recurrent
drought cause low productivity across all crops. Along with major issues, he also highlighted availability of
technologies to address these problems and elaborated on ICT tools being used for dissemination of information
and knowledge.
Dr. A. Padma Raju, Vice-Chancellor, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad suggested farmers to
adopt integrated farming system approach to safeguard their income in case of climatic adversities. Livestock
ensures income even during crop failures, he added. He also elaborated on various initiatives of the University to
extend supports to farmers for addressing their specific problems
Dr. B.S. Prakash, ADG(ANP), ICAR and Co-chair, emphasized the important role of value addition in enhancing
income of farmers and livestock owners. He stressed the need to make available quality seeds of improves fodder
varieties to farmers for improving materials and health status of livestock. He also urged farmers to adopt climate
proofing technologies.
Dr. Chairi Appaji, Incharge, Director, ATARI, Hyderabad and nodal officer of the workshop, briefed
on the creation
of farmers producer companies which aim higher income for farmers. He also elaborated on initiatives being
undertaken by ATARI and KVKs for implementation of ICAR new scheme, like ‘Mera Gaon, Mera Gaurav’ and
‘ARYA’.He also proposed vote for thanks
Progressive farmers from various districts of zone participated in workshop and put forth their specific problems
and issues which need attention and solution. Recurrent droughts, limited availability of quality seeds of suitable
crop varieties, limited availability of machines for small farmers, loss of crops by wild animals and need of location
specific integrated farming systems were some of major issues deliberated upon.
Directors and senior officials from ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural, Animal Science, and veterinary universities
and KVKs of the region Participated in the workshops and provided their inputs for providing solutions to specific
problems of farmers.
ICAR has planned such interactive workshops in 15 agro-climatic zones of country. A road map for agricultural
development of the region will be developed based on the outcome of the workshop. The road map will necessary
include identification of technological interventions which need to be up scaled and extension and demonstration
services for up scaling and out scaling. Future thrust area of research and extension for region will also be
identified.
(Source:ICAR-DKMA, New Delhi)