Secretary Agriculture Aboobaker Siddikh P has stressed on constitution of an expert committee for assessing the impact of government efforts and investments, scientific interventions, technology transfer programme and farmers’ efforts for development of farm sector of the state and identifying the gaps and shortcomings in planning and implementation process. The finding of such committee would provide a sound roadmap for further development of the sector, he added.
Addressing the Research Council meeting of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Tuesday, he emphasized that farmers should be persuaded to adopt integrated farming system, horticulture and high value crops instead of traditional mindset of rice-wheat sequence for doubling their income. Siddikh directed the university officials to send him a combined list of recruitment proposals sent so far to JPSC so that he could speak to Commission Chairman for expediting the recruitment process as the university was suffering from acute shortage of teachers.
He stressed that a committee be formed to suggest modifications in the existing statutes of BAU in the light of present day requirements as the statute was 3-4 decades old and its several provisions appear to have become outdated. He said BAU was part of the state government and he was hopeful that most of its present problems including CAS and 7th pay package would be solved by the end of current fiscal.
Director Agriculture, Rakhi Nisha Oraon underlined the need of close coordination between BAU and department of agriculture for properly addressing the issues of farm productivity, farmers’ empowerment and climate change.
BAU Vice Chancellor Dr Onkar Nath Singh urged the scientists to devote adequate time in the research fields for accuracy in collection of data and better research outcomes. He pointed out that BAU was working with only 15 percent of sanctioned strength of faculty and teaching programme in newly established 7 colleges was being managed by contractual teachers only. He urged the Secretary Agriculture to use his good offices for expediting the recruitment process of regular teachers by JPSC, approval of Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for teachers and implementation of 7th pay package for teachers & scientists of BAU.
Director Research Dr A Wadood said that food grains production in the state was hardly 22 lakh tones at the time of creation of Jharkhand which has increased to about 50 lkah tones as a result of sustained effort of scientists, farmers and infrastructure support by the government and the state is nearing self sufficiency on food grains front. Technological back up would be provided to farmers for replacing the upland rice with maize, pulses and finger millet etc for less risk and better economic return, he added.
Dr Shivendra Kumar, former head of Ranchi Centre of ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region and Dr Shiv Mangal Prasad, Principal Scoientist of Hazaribagh-based Central Rainfed Upland Rice Research Station acted as external experts and gave important suggestions for improving research programme on horticultural crops and rice. Dr Sushil Prasad, Additional Director Research proposed a vote of thanks. Shashi Singh anchored the programme.
Chairmen of different departments of agriculture faculty and Associate Directors of three Zonal Research Stations presented research highlights of their respective departments which were approved after minor modifications.
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