Develop high-yielding, drought-tolerant crops to meet market demand: Ex-ICAR deputy DG

Ranchi, Jul 9 (PTI) Eminent plant geneticist and former ICAR deputy director general (crop science) Dr TR Sharma on Thursday stressed the need for developing high-yielding, drought-tolerant and disease- and pest-resistant crop varieties with high protein and micronutrient content to meet market demand. Addressing the 46th Kharif Research Council of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Ranchi, Sharma said sustained and planned efforts were required to tap useful genes from crop wild relatives. He said pre-breeding should be made an integral part of all breeding programmes as selection of desired traits often takes more than a decade. Postgraduate and PhD students should be actively involved in research work under the guidance of scientists, he added. Dr VK Saxena, former assistant director general (animal production and breeding), ICAR, stressed the need for characterisation and registration of indigenous animal breeds with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, noting that only around 26 breeds have been registered in the last four to five years. He said serious efforts should be made to develop low-cost fodder and feed as nearly 70 per cent of animal production costs are spent on feeding. The poultry sector, growing at an annual rate of 6-7 per cent, is the fastest-growing segment in the country and its potential should be properly tapped in Jharkhand, Saxena added. BAU vice-chancellor Dr S C Dubey spoke on the need for developing cost-effective and system-responsive technologies keeping in mind the resource constraints of farmers in Jharkhand. He also underlined the importance of strengthening diagnostic and vaccination facilities for animals and birds in the state to improve productivity in the animal husbandry sector. Former BAU V-C Dr G S Dubey, Director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi, Dr Sujay Rakshit, head of ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Palandu, Dr Awani Kumar Singh, former director (Research) Dr D K Singh 'Dron', and former deans of the veterinary faculty Dr B K Roy and Dr M K Gupta were among those present at the deliberations. PTI SAN SAN MNB