Hon’ble Prime Minister release 109 climate resilient and bio-fortified crop varieties

            Hon’ble Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi ji released a total of 109 crop varieties that are both resilient to climate change and enriched with bio-fortification on August 11, 2024. The programme organized by ICAR KVK, CCARI Goa at  Ibrampur, Pernem. Hon’ble Prime Minister dedicated the crop varieties to the nation which are better suited for various agro-climatic zones of our country. The crop varieties consists of 23 cereals, 9 rice , 2 wheat , 1 barley , 6 maize , 1 sorghum, 1 millet , 1 ragi , 1 chheena , 1 samba , 2 tur , 2 gram , 3 lentil , 1 pea , and 2 moong, 7 varieties of overall oilseeds. 7 varieties of fodder,  7  of sugarcane, 5 of cotton, 1 of jute, 40 varieties of different horticultural crops.  The programme was organized under leadership and guidance of Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa. Dr. N. Bommayasamy, Senior Scientist and Head,  KVK briefed the importance of climate resilient crop  in changing climatic condition and  bio-fortified crop varieties helps in achieving overall health benefits of peoples.  He encouraged the farming community to utilize fermented organic manures, fermented liquid organic manures, and sulfur-coated urea to enhance the physical and chemical properties of the soil, preserve soil quality, and improve and sustain crop productivity.  Dr. Udharwar S.V., SMS (Animal science) enlighten the importance of feeding of  soda bicarbonate and mineral mixture in dairy cattle. Mr. Rahul Kumar, SMS (Agronomy)  gave lecture on natural farming practices and vermicomposting to get additional income and premium prices to the produce. Forty eight farmers (36 males and 12 females) including  Mr. Sudhir Dhauskar, Mr. Dilip Narulkar, progressive farmers and Mrs. Sangeeta Gaonkar, ex Sarpanch, Ozarim village and four officials attended the programme. Dr Udharwar, S.V. welcomed  and proposed vote of thanks.  The program was coordinated by Dr. N. Bommayasamy, Dr. Udharwar Sanjaykumar vithalrao. Mr.Rahul Kumar and  Mr.Vishwajeet Prajapati.