Third review meeting of VIII QRT of CRIDA-AICRPDA-AICRPM was held at MPUAT, Udaipur during 20-22 March, 2024 under the chairmanship of Prof. Panjab Singh, Former Secretary, DARE & DG, and ICAR. During the inaugural session, Dr. Aravind Verma, Director of Research, MPUAT welcomed QRT and gave an overview of rainfed agriculture in Rajasthan and Dr. R. A. Kaushik, Director of Extension, MPUAT briefed about the rainfed agriculture technologies dissemination and their impact in the region. Prof. Panjab Singh in his address highlighted the importance, contribution and scope of rainfed agriculture in Rajasthan. The QRT Members, Dr. A.K. Singh, Former VC, RVSKVV, Dr. V.M. Bhale, Former, VC, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Dr. Indra Mani, VC, VNMKV, Dr. S.N. Pasupalak, Former VC, OUAT and Dr. P. Ramasundaram, Former NC, NAHEP gave remarks on the importance of both AICRPs and future programmes. Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA briefed about AICRPAM, AICRPDA and NICRA programmes.Dr.G.Ravindra Chary, Member Secretary, QRT, Dr. SK Bal, PC, AICRPAM, Dr. JVNS Prasad, PC, AICRPDA and scientists from AICRPAM and AICRPDA centres attended. On the occasion, publications from the Centres were released. The QRT critically reviewed the performance of 2 AICRPAM centres (Anand and Udaipur) and 4 AICRPDA centres (Arjia, Rajkot, Aklera and CAZRI).
The QRT visited the on-farm trials/demonstrations on community nadi system, agri-hortisystem, pasture system in common lands and interventions on rainwater management , farm mechanization, seed and nutrient bank in Tara Khera and Bagatpura villages adopted by AICRPDA centre, Arjia under NICRA and held interaction meeting with the farmers in both Tara Khera and Bagatpura villages. The QRT visited AICRPDA centre, Arjia and reviewed the on-station experiments on rainwater harvesting in farm ponds, agri-hortisystems and facilities at the Centre. This was followed by the Stakeholder Consultation meeting on "Rainfed agriculture scenario in southern Rajasthan”. The QRT, Director, CRIDA, PCs of both AICRPs, Director of Research, MPUAT, senior officials of Dept. of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, PD, ATMA, AGM, NABARD, Officials from NGOs and FPOs, retired chief scientists from AICRPDA centre, Arjia, progressive farmers and scientists from 4 AICRPDA and 2 AICRPAM centres participated. The Chairman, QRT initiated the interaction followed by remarks/suggestions by all the officials and progressive farmers on the emerging problems and scope for enhancing production/productivity in rainfed agriculture in the region.
