A Virtual Interface Meeting on Enhancing the Preparedness of Agricultural Contingencies in Kharif 2024 for Rajasthan state was organized on 28.05.2024 by ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, and Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Rajasthan. Sh. Kanhaiya Lal Swami, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Govt of Rajasthan, Sh. Arjun Lal, Joint Director of Agriculture (ATC), Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Rajasthan, Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA, Dr. Jagadish Rane, Director, ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner, Director (Res)/Director (Extension)/Representatives of SKRAU, Bikaner, MPUAT, Udaipur, SKNAU, Jobner and AU, Kota, Representatives of ICAR institutes located in Rajasthan, Scientists from ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad, AICRPDA and AICRPAM centers in Rajasthan, Additional Directors of Agriculture/Joint Directors of Agriculture of various districts, Project Coordinators of KVKs attended the meeting.

Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA briefed about the purpose of the meeting and also highlighted on some of the measures to be adopted to cope with weather aberrations in agriculture sector. Dr. K.V. Rao, Head, DRM, CRIDA presented the monsoon situation – 2024 for the country and Rajasthan in particular, and implications of likely above-normal monsoon scenario on different sectors of agriculture. Sh. Arjun Lal, JDA appraised on kharif program plan in terms of major crops to be grown and the targeted areas during kharif 2024, availability of inputs and crop monitoring programs initiated in Rajasthan. The Additional Directors of Agriculture/Joint Directors of Agriculture presented a good overview of status as well as the alternatives to face any contingency situation. The alternative crops and varieties were also discussed during the meeting. The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Dr. A.V.M. Subba Rao, Principal Scientist, CRIDA, Hyderabad.