A Virtual Interface Meeting on Enhancing the Preparedness of Agricultural Contingencies in Kharif 2024 for Madhya Pradesh state was organized on 20.06.2024 by ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, and Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh.

Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA; Shri B.S. Dhurve, Additional Director, Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Shri. G.S. Chauhan, Joint Director; Shri Jitendra Singh Parihar, Dr Manisha Jaiswal and Shri S.S. Valari, Deputy Directors, Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Director (Res)/Director (Extension)/ Representatives of RVSKVV, Gwalior and JNKVV, Jabalpur; Representatives of ICAR institutes located in Madhya Pradesh; Scientists from ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad, AICRPDA and AICRPAM centres in Madhya Pradesh; Deputy Directors of Agriculture/Joint Directors of Agriculture of various districts, and Project Coordinators of KVKs attended the meeting.

Dr. K.A. Gopinath, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CRIDA welcomed all the participants. Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA briefed about the purpose of the meeting and also highlighted on rainfall scenario forecasted by IMD for Madhya Pradesh state & some of the contingency measures to be adopted to cope with weather aberrations.

Dr. K.V. Rao, Head, DRM, CRIDA presented the monsoon situation – 2024 for Madhya Pradesh, and implications of likely above-normal monsoon scenario on different sectors of agriculture. He further stressed on the need to ensure adequate drainage especially for soybean cultivation.

Shri B.S. Dhurve, Additional Director, Dept. of Agriculture appraised on kharif programme plan and informed that the Dept. is fully geared to cope with any weather aberration including high intensity rainfall events. He also informed that sufficient quantity of seed of different crops is available

Dr. S.K. Sharma, Director, Research & Services, RVSKVV highlighted that pigeonpea var. Pusa Arhar-16 is a short a short duration variety and need to be popularized for enhancing the productivity of pulses. The Chief Scientists from AICRPDA Centres Indore and Rewa shared experiences of real-time contingency plan implementation to cope with weather aberrations

The Additional Directors of Agriculture/Joint Directors of Agriculture presented an overview of status as well as the alternatives to face any contingency situation. The alternative crops & varieties, rainwater harvesting & efficient utilization were also discussed during the meeting. The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Dr. G. Venkatesh, Principal Scientist, CRIDA, Hyderabad.