Birsa Agriculture University (BAU) Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr Onkar Nath Singh said that the performance of BBM-1 variety in the paddy fallow land of the State has been very encouraging. In the upcoming Rabi season, the Directorate of Research will promote the coverage of mustard variety BBM-1 in the entire State through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) located in the districts.

A field day cum farmer seminar on mustard crop was organized by the Directorate of Research of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) at Kudiamu village of Sonahatu in Ranchi district. On the occasion, field day was celebrated at the site of observation of mustard crop (Prabhed Birsa Bhabha Sarson-1) in total 8 acres of land of tribal farmers Vipad Bhanjan Singh Munda, Lalu Singh Munda, Ramesh Munda, Dilip Munda and Tarani Singh Munda.

Along with VC of BAU, Director Research, Group of Scientists from the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding (GPB) and scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai, village heads and a large number of farmers participated. On the occasion, everyone appreciated the performance of the Birsa Bhabha Mustard-1 (BBM-1) variety developed by the research effort of BAU and BARC scientists. The village headman, village headman and farmers expressed their desire to cultivate this mustard variety throughout the village in the coming Rabi season.

Singh said that the Country has become self-sufficient in the matter of food grains but it still has to import edible oil in huge quantities. He directed the scientists to conduct a survey and review of Kudiamu village of Sonahatu in a week and to impart training on scientific cultivation of Kharif crops in the month of March. He talked about the adoption of the village by the university, providing all technical support and guidance to the farmers and 100 per cent coverage of mustard crop in the entire village in the coming Rabi season.

Addressing the villagers on the occasion Director Research, Dr Abdul Wadood said that the Country's agriculture has developed a lot due to research work for which full credit goes to the farmers of the Country but today the farmer is indifferent towards farming and his inclination has decreased. Agriculture can be made profitable by adopting scientific methods, he added.

On the instructions of the VC, Wadood announced the adoption of the entire village, formation of a scientific team for survey and providing free seeds to the farmers. He said that agriculture is an enterprise providing employment to all and a better option for self-employment.

The Scientist of BARC, Dr Archana Rai described BBM-1 as a variety giving good yield and good profit at low cost. She made farmers aware about mustard cultivation. Former Chairman (GPB), Dr ZA Haider highlighted the development sequence of BBM-1, developed by joint effort of BAU and BARC.

In view of the performance of mustard crop, Village Head, Kudiamu, Subhadra Devi stressed on the need for farmers to cultivate mustard in barren and fallow lands, to give double the seeds in exchange for the improved seeds provided by the university and agricultural technical awareness in the entire block.

The program was organized under the Tribal Sub Plan of Mustard Project sponsored by ICAR Rye – Directorate of Mustard Research, Rajasthan.

In the welcome address, Chairman, GPB Department Dr. Sohan Ram highlighted the potential in the cultivation of oilseed crops in the State. Steering Project Investigator, Dr Arun Kumar and thanks were given by Dr Manigopa Chakraborty.