National Webinar on ‘Seed Chain Development’ Organized by ICAR About Improved High Yield Jute Verities

ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrackpore organized Field Day and seed exhibition on 23.05.22 to create awareness among jute farmers about the improved high yielding varieties and other new technologies developed by the institute.

Seeds are the most important component of jute cultivation. The timely availability of quality seeds of improved seeds is a challenge for jute cultivation due to which the farmers were exploited by the trading of poor-quality seeds with least genetic and physical purity. In this context, this field day is much needed for sensitizing the farmers on different aspects of new improved varieties, their impact on growth and productivity in the research farm.

Dr. N. S. Rathore, Vice Chancellor, MPUAT, Udaipur graced the occasion ass chief guest and addressed the farmers. Dr. Rathore highlighted the importance of natural fibre. He expressed that in the near future their role will be felt more as the climatic changes are certain to impact the agriculture. He reiterated that small farm mechanization, adoption of high yielding varieties and innovative technologies to reduce the cost of cultivation will give boost to jute farming. 

He appealed that the FPOs working in jute diversified products must be unified and emphasize more on using the e-marketing platforms. He told the farmers to keep faith, trust and hope in agriculture profession as this is going to flourish further as a higher source of income. He was very much impressed to the developments in the Institute’s activities, technologies developed for the farmers and stakeholders.

Earlier, Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF welcomed the Chief Guest and the farmers assembled in the occasion of field Day. Dr. Kar expressed that the jute and other allied fibres crops are to be promoted in new and diverse agro-climatic condition because of the diverse commercial use which need creation of greater awareness. This is the high time to substitute the import of natural fibres and increase the export of fibre-based products to enhance the foreign exchange earnings. The farmers must be acquainted with the new varieties, integrated farming system, composting, accelerated retting, farm mechanization, natural fibre for getting overall profit from jute cultivation. The support to the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for design improvement and emarketing is very important to enhance the profitability. 

The resource persons from the Institute deliberated on different aspects of new jute variety, intercropping, importance and quality jute seed, weed management in jute developed and standardized by the institute. Farmers-Scientists interaction and field visit for the farmers were also arranged to create greater awareness. More than 150 farmers and SHGs members and scientists participated in this programme.