Galgotias University hosts Training-cum-Workshop on Basmati Rice for Export

Greater Noida, 29th March: One day Training-cum-Workshop on Production Technology of Basmati Rice for Export was organized at Galgotias University, Greater Noida. About 300 farmers, processors, traders, pesticide companies representatives, farm youth and agriculture scientists/ experts participated in the workshop. The workshop was jointly organized by School of Agriculture and Basmati Export Development Foundation, APEDA. It was emphasised by Agriculture experts during the workshop that there is huge potential of Basmati Rice Exports. Virenxia and Multiplex, two agri companies displayed their stalls for the benefit of the farmers. The experts explained about benefits of limited use of pesticide, Integrated pest Management Practices, Good Agriculture Practices, Production and Processing Techniques for getting good prices of quality produce of Basmati rice in the markets and for enhancing their income through exports.

The program was started with Saraswati Vandana and lighting the lamp.

University Chancellor, Suneel Galgotia expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the stakeholders, eminent speakers from various ICAR Institutes, industry partners, officials of Department of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, Basmati Export Development Foundation, farmers, and farm youth for attending this important event.

University’s CEO, Dhruv Galgotia welcomed the guests and expressed that Galgotias University is playing an important role in imparting quality education to students, making them professionally competent and socially sensitive. He emphasized that Agricultural education has to be in the forefront of building a scientific base for research and extension. He expressed his heartfelt welcome to farmer brothers, eminent dignitaries from Department of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh and various ICAR institutes.
Addressing the gathering, Vice Chancellor, Dr. K. Mallikharjuna Babu said that he is confident that the deliberations here will help to identify common areas of collaboration and to harness synergies to make Indian agriculture more robust especially in the production of Basmati Rice for export. Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr. Awadhesh Kumar said that to harmonize agricultural education with excellence in science and technology, we must undertake initiatives like this workshop aimed at benefit of our farming community.

Dr. R.N. Padaria, Joint Director-Extension, ICAR-IARI, explained the techniques of growing best quality Basmati rice to the farmers and students. He explained that three varieties of Basmati namely Pusa Bamati 1847, Pusa Basmati 1885 and Pusa Basmati 1886 recently released by IARI are resistant to Bacterial Blight and Paddy Blast. The multiplication of seeds of these three varieties could reduce pesticide consumption which will be helpful for enhancing our export in European market. Dr. Subhash Chander, Director, ICAR-NCIPM emphasized on biological control and adoption of IPM technologies.

Dr. Ritesh Sharma, Principal Scientist, BEDF said more focus needs to be given to the disease resistant varieties. He updated farmers that climate of 5 states and 95 districts of our country is optimum for paddy crop, and this includes 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh alone. Dr. Ritesh Sharma explained in detailed about production technologies, processing, and procedures of enhancing export of Basmati rice. It was also emphasized by him that export could be enhanced further by strengthening and involvement of Farmers Producers Organizations.

Dr. Y.S. Shivay, Principal Scientist, IARI discussed about management of weeds in the basmati rice crop and need to adopt good agricultural practices due to fragmentation of land.

Dr. Mukesh Sehgal, Principal Scientist, NCIPM said that to get a good crop of Basmati, special attention on raising nursery, transplanting, accurate information about the diseases of paddy crop needs to be given. Dr. Vinod Kumar, Agriculture District Development Officer, UP Govt informed farmers to send their queries on the helpline numbers 9452247111 and 9452257111 regarding any agricultural issue. Mr. Rahul Yadav, Divisional Marketing Officer, Meerut also attended the program and provided important information related to agriculture export and trade.

Dr. Sahadeva Singh, Dean, School of Agriculture, Prof H.S. Gaur, Distinguished Professor briefed the participants during the programme with an aim for focused research efforts for evolution of short duration cultivars and good agronomic practices are required for productivity enhancement, reduction in water requirement and sustainable cultivation of basmati rice in northern India. Dr. Uzma Manzoor, Associate Dean, School of Agriculture proposed vote of thanks.