Dr. Alok Kumar Sikka, Former Deputy Director General (NRM) of ICAR, paid a visit to the ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research (ICAR-DWR) in Jabalpur recently. During his interaction with the institute's scientists, Dr. Sikka underscored the critical importance of effective weed management technologies in enhancing crop productivity across various agricultural practices, including natural and organic farming, conservation agriculture, and direct-seeded rice (DSR).
Dr. Sikka urged researchers to explore innovative approaches such as herbicide spraying through drones, studying the dynamics of weed flora in natural farming systems under different climate scenarios, and developing eco-friendly strategies for combating aquatic weeds, with a specific focus on water hyacinths.
Additionally, he emphasized the need for developing integrated weed management technologies tailored for DSR, aiming to boost adoption rates and conserve water resources.
Dr. J.S. Mishra, Director of ICAR-DWR, Jabalpur, provided insights into the institute's ongoing research activities and highlighted its notable achievements in the field of weed management.
The visit of the Former Deputy Director General marks a significant milestone in advancing research efforts at ICAR-DWR, reaffirming the institute's commitment to addressing critical agricultural challenges and promoting sustainable farming practices.