Dr ML Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), visited the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) on Wednesday. During his visit, he spoke to farmers, scientists, and officials about “Improved Agricultural Practices for Atmanirbhar Bharat” at the Crop Harvest Day event.
Dr Jat shared a vision for natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, and innovation within India’s agricultural research system. He mentioned that despite its beginnings on saline land where not even grass could grow, the institute has become a national leader in reclaiming saline and alkaline soils, marking a significant achievement in Indian agricultural science.
The challenges regarding soil health, water resources, energy use, and climate change were emphasized by Dr Jat, who stressed the importance of integrated, science-based solutions. He discussed a research collaboration with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), focusing on the long-term impact of current practices versus improved interventions. Notably, the adoption of no-tillage farming since 2009 has resulted in energy savings, improved soil health, increased soil organic carbon levels, and reduced fertiliser requirements.
Dr Jat encouraged farmers to embrace these technologies for higher incomes and to contribute to a self-sufficient nation. At the event, Dr SK Sanwal, Director of CSSRI, provided an update on the institute’s current research projects. Additionally, Dr AK Nayak, Deputy Director General of ICAR, and Dr Anuradha Agarwal, Project Director at the Directorate of Agricultural Knowledge Management, were in attendance.
Prior to his visit to CSSRI, Dr Jat also visited the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) and the ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research in the city to review project progress. Speaking to the press, Dr Jat expressed optimism about the wheat season, noting an expansion of total wheat area to 33.4 million hectares this year. He anticipates surpassing last year’s wheat production of 117.9 million tonnes with favorable weather conditions supporting grain filling and over 40% of the crop already harvested successfully.
