Jharkhand Governor, Droupadi Murmu has stressed on developing and extending need-based, low-cost, system-responsive farm technologies for small and marginal farmers who constitute over 80 per cent of the State farmers.
Inaugurating the three-day eastern region regional Agrotech, 2021Mela at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Friday, she said major area of the State’s arable land remains fallow during rabi due to prevalence of rainfed farming and lack of irrigation facilities. She stressed that research efforts should be focused on developing early maturing crop varieties having low water requirements.
Integrated farming systems incorporating animal husbandry, poultry, fishery and forestry into the system should be promoted, farming for minimizing losses under crop failure due to aberrant weather conditions, she stressed.
Central theme of the 3-day event is ‘Rural prosperity through diversification of agricultural enterprises.’
Speaking on the occasion Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth said the Railway Minister has agreed to his proposal for starting Kisan Rail from Jharkhand for transporting agricultural produce, especially perishable commodities, at cheaper rates and aid farmers in getting the right price for their crops. “Jharkhand being a surplus state in vegetables is already sending its pea, capsicum, french bean, cauliflower and others to important cities of the Country by air cargo. Bero, in important vegetable cultivation centre of Ranchi is sending about 50 truck loads to Chhattisgarh every day,” he said.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion BAU Vice Chancellor, Dr Onkar Nath Singh said water conservation and management, seed replacement with improved varieties and farm mechanization for reducing cost of cultivation of small farm holders were priority areas for the university. “Online classes, examinations and admissions were held as per schedule during the Covid and 205 new video lectures were uploaded on BAU youtube. Offline classes would be started very soon for which preparations are on as per the Covid guidelines,” he added.
SK Satpathi, Acting Chairman of Jharkhand Human Rights Commission was also present as a special guest. Shashi Singh anchored the event.
Sukhram Munda, great grandson of Birsa Munda and four progressive farmers namely Sapna Kumari from Dumka, Gorakh Nath Sao from Garhwa, Sourav Oraon from Nagri, Ranchi and Mahesh Purti from East Singhbhum were felicitated by the Governor for their innovative practices.
Different government departments, units of BAU, ICAR Institutes of the State, banks, and dealers of tractors, farm machineries, seeds, fertilizers and NGOs have displayed their technologies, products and services at nearly 150 stalls. Turmeric instantly hints at yellow colour but fresh crop of white turmeric having low curcumin and red turmeric with high curcumin are also on display at the horticulture show.
Department of veterinary surgery has displayed very low cost crutches sticks for supporting small and large animals developing fractures in legs which can be easily made by animal farmers too with aluminium hangers and iron rods available in homes. Model of low cost egg incubator of 50 egg capacity, operated by power and battery at about one fifth cost of market price is also on display. Forty processed products including those made of nutricereal ragi, prepared by the Department of Home Science are on sale.