The Directorate of Extension Education at Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT), Udaipur organized a one-day training session aimed at promoting agricultural machinery and labour- intensive equipment among small and marginal farmer families. The event, held at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Chittorgarh, was conducted under a project sponsored by the Department of Agriculture & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi.
Dr. R.A. Kaushik, Director of Extension Education and Project, In-charge, addressed farmer women at the commencement of the training, highlighting the importance of adopting intensive and precision agriculture methods given the increasing population.
Dr. Kaushik highlighted the benefits of utilizing modern agricultural machinery for advanced seed sowing, fertilization, and timely farming operations, leading to reduced human labour in agriculture. Research findings presented during the session indicated that the use of agricultural machinery could decrease labour and time involvement in agricultural tasks by 20-30%. Furthermore, there was noted to be a significant reduction of approximately 15-20% in costs related to fertilizers, seeds, and chemicals.
Dr. Hemu Rathore, a scientific officer and the main speaker at the training, provided practical demonstrations on various advanced technologies including threshers, maize shellers, peanut shellers, transplanters, vegetable picking bags, solar heat, and finger-worn vegetable cutters, emphasizing their safe and efficient use by women in agriculture.
Dr. Latika Vyas and Acharya discussed the important role played by women in agriculture, highlighting that women undertake 90% of activities from cultivation preparation to storage. They highlighted the need for specialized training sessions tailored to enrich the skills and contributions of farmer women in agriculture.
Dr. R.L. Solanki, Senior Scientist and Head of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chittorgarh, shared technical insights on methods to maintain soil fertility, focusing on the importance of soil nutrients for sustainable farming practices.
The training session witnessed active participation and discussions from Adarsh Sharma, Program Officer, Dr. Kusum Sharma, Dr. Deepa Indoria, Abhilasha, Madan Giri, Rajesh Vishnoi, and other stakeholders, reflecting a collaborative effort towards promoting efficient and sustainable agricultural practices among farming communities.
