Dr. S. N. Jha Advocates for a Separate Agricultural Engineering Department in Rajasthan

In the inaugural address of the 19th annual workshop of the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Plastic Engineering in Agriculture, Dr. S. N. Jha, Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), highlighted the commendable work done by agricultural engineers in the water harvesting department in Rajasthan. He stressed the need for the Rajasthan government to pay attention to agricultural mechanization, which has not received significant focus, and urged the establishment of a separate Agricultural Engineering Department in the state.

Dr. Jha emphasized the global focus on agricultural production variations and management, suggesting that Rajasthan could boost farmer income by concentrating on processing agricultural products. He highlighted the necessity for Rajasthan to establish a dedicated Agricultural Engineering Department directly under the Department of Agriculture to make farming more accessible and profitable.

Referring to the recommendation by the parliamentary committee on agriculture and the request made by the Minister of Agriculture to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Dr. Jha called for the creation of a separate department. He underscored the importance of promoting agricultural mechanization at the panchayat and block levels, advocating for the appointment of agricultural engineers at each panchayat and block level. Dr. Jha expressed that this move would contribute to the modernization of farmers' fields and lead to increased productivity and income.

Dr. Jha also highlighted the need for the Rajasthan government to follow the examples of other states such as Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which have already established separate departments. He stressed the role of the Agricultural Engineering Department in providing farmers with advanced technology directly, ensuring quality maintenance, mechanization of fields, processing of their products, and resolving all issues at the panchayat and block levels.

The workshop, jointly organized by MPUAT Udaipur and CFET, Ludhiana, featured presentations from 14 centers across the country. Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka, Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Agriculture and Technology University Udaipur, addressed the main session, praising the judicious use of plastic in agriculture. He acknowledged the environmental impact of plastic but highlighted its cost-effectiveness as a viable alternative. Dr. Narsiah, Additional Director, ICAR, New Delhi, urged scientists to innovate technically and reduce costs.

Dr. Rakesh Sharda, Project Coordinator, CFET, Ludhiana, presented the annual report of the project during the workshop. T.B.S. Rajput, former Project Director, Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, New Delhi, and Engineer Anand Jhambre, Executive Director, NCPAH, New Delhi, participated as specialists in reviewing new projects and annual reports. Dr. Arvind Verma, Research Director, Maharana Pratap Agriculture and Technology University Udaipur, welcomed the guests and provided a brief overview of the achievements of the Udaipur Center. Dr. Verma also engaged in a discussion on the potential use of plastic in agriculture.

The workshop brought together experts to explore innovative solutions for the judicious use of plastic in agriculture and highlighted the importance of creating a dedicated Agricultural Engineering Department in Rajasthan for the overall benefit of farmers.