Parbhani-Representative
In the wake of heavy rains in Marathwada, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Shri Dhananjay Munde visited Parbhani on Wednesday (4th). During this he visited Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University and held a review meeting.
Member of Legislative Council Mr. Rajesh Vitekar, former MLA Mr. Madhusudan Kendra, Resident Deputy Collector Mr. Jivraj Dapkar were prominently present on this occasion.
In this meeting, Agriculture Minister Munde reviewed the work done by the university to protect crops from damage due to heavy rains and current crop management. He said that the university should develop automated agriculture by fully computerizing and mechanizing the developed area and discuss drone spraying and reduce the current rate charged by the university for drone spraying. It was mentioned that drones should be used to inspect the currently damaged crops and estimate the extent of damage to the crops. The use of nano-fertilizers should be promoted due to the importance of nano-fertilizers in crop production as they can save 60 percent in production costs and increase production by 50 %.
Initiatives should be taken to recommend and promote free distribution of nano fertilizers. Along with this, the Food Safety and Standards Institute of India should be pursued to produce soya milk in soybean production. Along with this, instructions were given that bamboo should be planted on the campus of the university as well as along the road to promote bamboo cultivation in the universities.
On this occasion the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Indra Mani informed that the University has developed three and a half thousand acres of land for seed production and also informed about the Maharashtra Mechanization Center. Research Director Dr. Khizr Baig said that the seed production of the university was 10 thousand 200 quintals last year. This year, the target will be doubled to 20,000 quintals and in the future, the target has been set at 50,000 quintals, he said. Also, for the development of farmers and educational development, the university has entered into MoUs with the leading universities and institutes of the country and abroad and it has been mentioned that the benefit of this will be the creation of skilled manpower.
Registrar Dr. Santosh Venikar requested approval of seed production projects, tissue cultured bananas and sugarcane plants as there is demand for increasing the revenue of the university. On this occasion, Controller Mr. Praveen Nirmal, University Engineer Mr. Deepak Kashalkar, Associate Chancellor Dr. Syed Ismail, Dr. Jaya Bangale, Dr. RD Kshirsagar, Dr. Vasudev Narkhede, Dr. Rajesh Kadam, Dr. Vishwanath Khandare, Dr. Gajendra Londhe, Joint Director of Agriculture of Latur Division Mr. Sahebrao Diwekar as well as heads of various departments, prominent scientists of the university etc. were present.
