While there are many successful nurseries operating in Vidarbha for commercial and Ornamental trees, shrubs, annuals, lawn grass and other plants, the innovative and successful nursery of Tur and Cotton will improve overall productivity, higher per acre yield and per acre profitability for Vidarbha farmers said Chief Guest Milind Shende, Superintending Agriculture Officer, Nagpur District, while delivering the keynote address during the one day field workshop on “Navankur 1.0 – Nursery a Profitable Agri Business” organized by Agro and Rural Development Forum of Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) at Mahalaxmi Gaushala, Koradi, Nagpur.
The innovator, Om Jajodia having successfully implemented the project with due acknowledgement of ICAR – Central Institute for Cotton Research and other Central Institutes said that there is a savings potential to the tune of Rs.2000/ acre during sowing and enhanced yield of around 40 %, by this new technology of planting Tur and Cotton, initially developed in nurseries by farmers in their backyard and then transplanting to the field.
It is necessary to give the young seedlings due attention in the first few weeks after germination. The young and tender seedlings growing in nursery at farmer backyards are easier and more economical to handle in small areas than in the main planting field, said Dr V Santhy, Principal Scientist – CICR, supported by Dr Sunil S Mahajan, Principal Scientist – CICR, while demonstrating the innovative technology, using paper cones and rolls as carrier material. The CICR team also emphasized on preparation of nursery beds, soil management, planting procedures, control of seedling density, use of fertilizers, irrigation, and pest control etc.
The innovative technology will save considerable time for the raising of the next crop, and will fetch higher prices on early arrival in mandi. There is saving of land and Labour as the main field will be occupied by the crop for lesser duration. Hence intensive crop rotation can be followed, said Dr Vinod Raut, Department of Horticulture, PDKV Nagpur. CA Sachin Jajodia also shared financial aspect and tax exemption in agriculture with the farmers.
Many farmers including Sanjay Satyakar from Parshivni, the recipient of Government of Maharashtra award for tur productivity shared their success story on the new technology followed by success story by Dr Raghav Paralkar, CEO of Guna Seeds.
The program was attended by industries including Rohit Agarwal, CEO – Sungod Agfarms, Chandan Mutha, CEO – Aashapura Agro Industries Chandrapur. Earlier, R B Goenka, Vice President – VIA gave his welcome address and enlightened about the forum’s activities.
Prominently present in the workshop were Sharad Paliwal, Nagpur Garden Club, Shachi Mallick, Dr Kirty Sirothia, Kapil Sahoo, Shipra Dixit amongst other VIA Agro Forum team and enthusiastic farmers from Vidarbha region. Kiran Gokhale summed up the seminar and also proposed a formal vote of thanks.
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