C.L.L Gowda, Deputy Director General, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT, Hyderabad), has called upon the farmers to take up the cultivation of pulses as they are resistant to drought conditions prevailing in the State.
He was addressing the farmers and agricultural experts of different districts, at a one-day technical workshop on pulses production, at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), V.C. Farm, on the outskirts of the town on Wednesday.
Stressing upon the importance of pulses, Mr. Gowda, a renowned agricultural expert, advised the farmers to increase the extent of cultivation of pulses as they are a good source of vegetable protein and other ingredients.
The farmers should adopt for modern agricultural techniques, under the guidance of field staff, to improve their income, he said.
H. Shivanna, vice-chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, inaugurated the programme. He advised the farmers to go in for appropriate strategies, use quality seeds and also approach agriculture experts to get more information on pulses cultivation for better yields.
The programme was organised at ZARS as the year 2016 has been declared as the ‘International Year of Pulses’, M. Venkatesh, Scientist (Horticulture), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), said.
Enhance knowledge
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Venkatesh added that the ZARS and KVK have resorted to educate farmers about the cultivation of pulses through various programmes.
“We will organise workshops and seminars apart from conducting field visits to educate and encourage farmers on cultivating pulses,” he said.
‘Dwidala Deepa’, a programme on All India Radio (AIR, Mysuru), was also inaugurated on the occasion.
M.N. Rajasulochana, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture, AIR programme officer M. Raghavendra, Extensional Director of UAS-B K. Jagadishwar, officials of UAS-B, ZARS, KVK and several government departments, and farmers from different parts of Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and other districts were present.
