In Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, a six-day (24-day) program for Agriculture graduate students to develop Sri Anna Vatika in order to implement the various activities of the International Nutritious Grains Year 2023 and the nutritious grain plan of Honorable Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka. June to June 29, 2023) The experiential training program “Scientific Production Management of Nutrigrains” was concluded on 29.06.2023.
The chief guest of the program Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka, Vice-Chancellor, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology told that the United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Nutritious Cereals on the initiative of the Government of India. Highlighting the importance of nutritious grains, he said that nutritious grains are being cultivated in our country since 5000 years ago. After independence, PL-480 red wheat was imported in our country, but after that, due to the untiring efforts and research of scientists, green revolution took place in the country, as a result of which today we are exporting wheat to other countries. He told that at present there is a need to pay attention to the scientific cultivation of nutritious grains so that more production can be obtained and more economic benefits can be obtained. He informed that coarse cereals are grown in about 50 lakh hectares in Rajasthan but the productivity is less than 10 quintals per hectare. In the last 15 years, the area of coarse grains has decreased by more than 50 percent and he inspired the youth to work on value addition of coarse grains. Special guest of the program Dr. Chandresh Tiwari, Former Director Extension Education, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand told that today there are nine main nutritious grains (millets) in India whose high yielding varieties, Work is being done on nutrition and plant protection so that 1 to 1.5 tonnes of millet yield can be taken. International nutritious grains will have a special significance in bringing millet to the kitchen instead of wheat and rice.
Dr. Arvind Verma, Research Director told about nutri-cereals that in the cultivation of nutri-cereals, less water is required as compared to other food grains wheat, rice, the state of Rajasthan produces maximum coarse grains.
Dr. S. S. Sharma, Dean, Rajasthan Agricultural College, called upon the students that due to the abundance of nutrients in millets, they are playing an important role in fighting lifestyle-based diseases of the people. Due to which they are becoming more popular in urban areas in the 21st century. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all the people to establish India’s millets at the world level.
Dr. P. Singh, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering emphasized on increasing the income of farmers by combining nutritious grains with engineering so that nutritional security can be achieved.
Original link: https://www.mpuat.ac.in/
