Conference on Prioritizing Crop-Specific Technologies for Sustainable Profitability Starts in Lucknow Today

National Education Empowerment and Development Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Society for Advancement of Wheat and Barley Research, and Center for Research and Development is hosting 'Regional Conference on Prioritizing Crop-Specific Technologies for Sustainable Profitability: The Uttar Pradesh Chapter' on April 29-30, 2022.

Uttar Pradesh, being one of the most populous states of India and known for the dependency of its majority on agriculture & related activities for their livelihoods; awareness creation, adoption and right usage of new improved technologies is of paramount importance.

Dr. Hari Shankar Gupta, Guest of Honour, lit the lamp along with Dr. A. D. Pathak, Director, ICAR-IISR, Dr. Baij Nath Singh, VC, BAU, Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Director, Agriculture Commission for Assam, and other dignitaries.

In his welcome address, Dr. A. D. Pathak welcomed all dignitaries and participants. Following that, he presented Bouquets and mementos to all dignitaries on the dais. He highlighted that UP is India's leading producer of ethanol, and increased use of the commodity for blending with gasoline will help the industry earn more revenue and clear farmer payments.

Delivering his speech, Dr. Baij Nath Singh, Chairman of NEEDEF, stated that temperature tolerant varieties are the need of the hour. We are working hard to improve farmer conditions to the best of our ability, and we need to strengthen our ties with kvks. Then he mentioned Kalanamak rice, which recently received the Prime Minister's Award, and urged everyone to promote it. Siddharthnagar, an aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh's Terai belt, produces ODOP 'Kalanamak' rice.

Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh discussed the potential of various wheat and barley varieties, as well as the advantages of direct-seeded rice, such as water conservation, early maturity, lower cultivation costs, and reduced methane emissions.

Dr. Hari Shankar Gupta began his speech by thanking everyone for coming. He believes that increasing crop production while also increasing farmer income must be balanced. "UP is now the largest producer of foodgrains, first in milk production, sugarcane production, and sugarcane-based ethanol production as well," he said.

Following that, he emphasized the importance of nutritional and livelihood security for farmers, both of which are urgently needed. It is critical to pay farmers a fair price. Farmers' income can be increased by implementing the following strategies:

• Increasing Crop Intensity

• Crop Diversification

• Infusion of New Technology

• Use of Good Variety of Quality Seeds

• Proper Irrigation & Crop Care

This conference was attended by scientists, faculty, academicians, policymakers, crop specialists, extension professionals, agri-entrepreneurs, agri-business professionals, administrators, officials of ICAR / CAUs / SAUs / KVKs / NGOs / CSRs, corporates, farmers, students, and media, among others.