MPUAT: Successful Conclusion of 20th Research Council Meeting

Udaipur: The 20th meeting of the Research Council of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT), Udaipur, was convened under the chairmanship of Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, at the Research Directorate on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Addressing the scientists on this occasion, Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka, the Chancellor of MPUAT, stated that our university is at the forefront of agricultural research. He highlighted the university's achievements in developing advanced new varieties of maize, groundnut, and opium along with 37 patented technologies. Moreover, scientists have received 14 individual awards and 2 national awards for their projects, and collaborations have been established with various institutions. He emphasized the importance of aligning research activities with the needs of society, including producers, marketers, and consumers.

Dr. Karnataka stressed the need for the university to focus on the development and valorization of specific agricultural products in its jurisdiction to enhance its reputation globally. Furthermore, he urged the dissemination of research findings through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and other groups to ensure their sustainable integration into society.

Dr. S.K. Sharma, Assistant Director (Human Resources) at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, emphasized the importance of addressing climate change, which affects not only other crops but also horticultural crops, fisheries, and poultry farming. He advocated for attention to temperature management and increasing carbon levels in the soil. He emphasized the need for special attention to water management and the adoption of integrated farming systems, including horticultural crops and mushroom cultivation.

Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Director of Horticulture, Government of India, New Delhi, highlighted the importance of addressing local vegetables' excellence centers and working on crop diversification to increase farmers' income. He stressed mechanization from sowing to value addition and suggested producing hybrid seeds on every farm to boost university revenue.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Arvind Verma, Director of Research, welcomed all participants and presented a report on the decisions taken at the previous meeting held on April 15, 2024. Regional Directors of Agricultural Research Centers, Directors of Agricultural Science Centers, Senior Scientists, and officials from the Rajasthan government's Department of Agriculture were present at the meeting.

The meeting concluded with the release of the status reports of Zone IV A and Zone IV B published by the Research Directorate.