Image Credit source: NewsNCR Digital
Maize Farming: In the states where the groundwater level is depleting, farmers have been advised to grow maize instead of paddy. This year 14 high yielding hybrid varieties of maize have got approval for different regions of the country.
Maize cultivation for water conservation and crop diversification in agriculture (Maize Farming) can prove to be a very suitable crop. Availability of advanced technology of maize and proper policy and program of the government is very important to promote its cultivation. This was stated by Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) Vice Chancellor Prof. BR Kamboj said at the closing ceremony of the three-day annual workshop on Mecca organized in the university. Various agricultural universities and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from across the country participated in the workshop.ICARAbout 250 agricultural scientists from different states participated. Agricultural scientists churned to increase the productivity of maize.
Pro. Kamboj said that the area under maize and its productivity is increasing continuously in the country over the years, yet the present level of productivity is very low. This difference is mainly due to the short duration of the crop in India and the instability of the weather in the rainfed region, where about 80 percent of the area is covered under maize. The productivity of maize in India is 2.9 tonnes per hectare. While the global average is 5.6 tonnes per hectare.
The Vice Chancellor said that agricultural scientists have done important work by developing advanced and hybrid varieties in the direction of increasing the production of maize in the country. Due to the increase in the area under these improved varieties and maize, production is increasing. If more number of farmers adopt its cultivation, then it can prove to be very useful for their economic benefits as well as for water conservation and food security.
14 Maize Hybrids Approved
On this occasion, Assistant Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr.K. Srinivasan stressed on the use of information technology media more and more to popularize the cultivation of maize. Expressing concern over the depleting ground water level in Haryana and Punjab, Dr. HS Gupta, Chairman, Consultative Committee of All India Research Project (Maize), called upon the farmers to adopt maize cultivation in place of paddy.
Maize is important for crop diversification
Dr. JC Shekhar, Scientist of Hyderabad Center in Maize Project informed that this year 14 high yielding hybrid varieties of maize have been approved for different regions of the country. Dr. PS Zaidi, Scientist of International Center for Maize and Wheat Revision (CEMIT), highlighted the available breeding material of maize for developing new varieties of maize in India. Dr. Sai Das, former director of Maize Research Institute, praised the government for including maize for crop diversification in Haryana.
: Language Inputs
“This post is sourced from newspapers, magazines and third-party websites. For more information please check NewsNCR Disclaimer“
.
