India ought to give attention to leading edge analysis and growth to extend cotton productiveness and farmers’ earnings, the nation’s prime agricultural scientists and specialists mentioned at a nationwide convention on “Pioneering the way forward for cotton analysis” in Salem, Tamil Nadu.
The convention was organised by Rasi Seeds as a part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations in collaboration with the Federation of Seed Business in India (FSII). About 150 prime researchers and scientists engaged on cotton from the Indian Council of Agricultural Analysis (ICAR), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and specialists from throughout the nation took half.
One of many key suggestions on the convention was the necessity to enhance cotton productiveness within the nation from the present 447 kg per hectare. That is regardless of India topping different nations in acreage (136.1 lakh hectares) and manufacturing (342 lakh bales of 170 kg).
Key elements
Specialists and scientists identified that elements akin to shifting climate patterns, growing pest and illness challenges and sluggish adoption of superior applied sciences have hindered the expansion in yield, ensuing within the productiveness plateauing over the previous 5-7 years.
“This nationwide convention is aimed toward reiterating the numerous position and pressing want of cutting-edge R&D within the cotton crop in India, exploring holistic options to extend cotton productiveness. Particular give attention to enabling technological and coverage interventions is the necessity of the hour to make sure India’s cotton sector stays sustainable, worthwhile and globally aggressive,” mentioned M Ramasami, Chairman of Rasi Seeds, a veteran with over 50 years of expertise within the seed sector.
On the convention, Rasi Seeds signed a number of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Central Institute of Cotton Analysis (CICR), ICAR, Tamil Nadu Agricultural College (TNAU), and Annamalai College. These MoUs goal to advance farmers’ coaching programmes together with cotton advisories by way of radio broadcasting to deliver consciousness on numerous points akin to administration of the Pink Bollworm menace and drive analysis tasks on cotton crop enchancment.
RS Paroda, Founder-Chairman, Belief for Development of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), referred to as for partnerships in cotton analysis, which is pivotal for the sustainable development of the cotton {industry}.
Charting higher path
DK Yadava, ADG (Seeds), ICAR, mentioned: “Contemplating the distinctive hurdles we encounter, collaboration amongst all stakeholders is essential for charting a significant path forward. India’s potential is huge, demanding concerted efforts to deal with the low-productivity problem.”
YG Prasad, Director, CICR-Nagpur, mentioned: “Private and non-private partnership is the necessity of the hour to deal with the biotic and abiotic elements affecting the cotton crops at present.”
Ajai Rana, FSII Chairman, mentioned India must undertake a science-based and unbiased method in direction of revolutionary applied sciences in seeds and biotechnology.
Ram Kaundinya, Director-Common, FSII, mentioned continued funding in science and analysis is the important thing to overcoming challenges like those affecting cotton crop yields at present.
Geetha Lakshmi, VC, TNAU, and RM Kathiresan, VC, Annamalai College, additionally shared their views on enhancing industry- institute interactions.
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