PJTAU scientists to take innovations to farmers: VC Janaiah

Hyderabad: Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University will undertake an innovative initiative to promote crop diversification across Telangana, Vice Chancellor Professor Aldas Janaiah announced on Monday. Conceived as part of the Central Government Khet Bachao scheme, the programme titled Innovation to Impact will be launched by State Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao between October 18 and 31. Sharing details of the new initiative, Janaiah explained that as part of ongoing reforms within university research systems, the project will be implemented starting this Rabi season with specific objectives of bridging technological gaps in cultivation, promoting crop diversification, reducing yield disparities, and enhancing farmers income.

Janaiah stated that the project was specifically designed keeping in mind current El Niño conditions in the state, addressing deficits in technology adoption and yield gaps in pulses and oilseed crops. The initiative will be deployed across 12 designated regional centres suitable for crop diversification: Palem, Tandoor, Madhira, Warangal, Kampasagar, Rudrur, Adilabad, Jagtial, Thornala, Karimnagar, Basantpur, and Kunaram. Each centre will operate a dedicated execution team of four scientists. Four villages will be selected under each centre, with 20 to 25 progressive farmers identified per village to receive a package of advanced, site-appropriate technologies.

Selected farmers and villages will adopt modern crop varieties alongside improved production and crop protection measures. Participating university scientists will deliver these technologies directly to farmers while providing continuous monitoring at the field level. Janaiah explained that the project will run continuously for two years to implement the technology package effectively and demonstrate tangible impact directly by season end, thereby encouraging wider adoption among neighbouring farmers to boost yields and overall returns.

Key anticipated outcomes include bridging technology implementation gaps, minimizing yield disparities, raising farm incomes, improving soil and water quality, enhancing local availability of pulses and oilseeds, and reducing national import dependencies for these commodities.

To ensure seamless execution, PJTAU will seek active cooperation and support from ICAR institutions, ICRISAT, state agriculture and horticulture departments, and private industry partners. Janaiah added that PJTAU will soon submit a comprehensive project proposal requesting approximately Rs 25 crore from the state government to execute the programme efficiently.

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VRC Phaniharan

VRC Phaniharan[email protected]