ICAR-CRIJAF Conducted Farmer-SHG-Scientist-Expert Interface Meeting to Get Feedback on Its Tech & Varieties

ICAR-CRIJAF organized a one-day Farmer-SHG-Scientist-Expert Interface Meeting on 23^rd June 2022 which adopted farmers and self-help group (SHG) members from four districts viz. Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Murshidabad districts took part. The objective of the interface meeting was to get feedback from the farmers regarding various ICAR-CRIJAF-developed varieties and technologies.

The Chairman of RAC, Prof. S. K. Datta, Ex DDG, Crop Science, ICAR, and Vice-Chancellor, Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay along with other esteemed members including Dr. R.K. Singh, ADG (CC), ICAR-New Delhi graced the Farmer-SHG-Scientist-Expert Interface Meeting. Chairman, RAC, Dr. Datta interacted with the farmers and SHG members and got acquainted with the problem faced by them and the benefit they are getting by adopting the varieties and technologies developed by ICAR-CRIJAF.

Dr. Datta was satisfied with the interaction with the farmers and appreciated the current research programs and promotional activities taken up by ICAR-CRIJAF for the farmers of different jute growing districts.

Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF welcomed all the members of the RAC and presented the overall achievements of the institute, and assured the committee that ICAR-CRIJAF is ready to face the challenges because of erratic climate change.

Dr. Kar stressed that the research agenda of the institute has been re-oriented to develop technology that is demand driven and problem-solving considering the current challenges faced by the jute farmers.

Dr. Kar explained about the new varieties developed by the institute have the premature flowering resistant trait and also asked farmers to take the benefit of having an in-situ retting pond and integrated farming system, which not only ensures timely availability of water for retting but also facilitates produce high-value vegetables, fishery, etc. by adopting the integrated farming system.

Technical sessions on pest management and the improved retting technology of jute for quality fiber production were also organized for the farmers. Altogether 150 farmers, SHG members, and FPO representatives participated in the Farmer-SHG-Scientist-Expert Interface Meeting organized by ICAR-CRIJAF.

The RAC members also visited the exhibition hall, museum, in situ jute retting pond, research farm, KVK, and the adopted villages of the institute. The dignitaries interacted with the farmers and visited the demonstration and on-farm trial taken up in Beriberi village, North 24 Parganas, and distributed input and products to the farmers under the SCSP program.