Greater innovation mooted for farm sector

CONTINUOUS INNOVATION on a larger scale in agriculture and greater participation of farmers in the process is the need of the hour.

CONTINUOUS INNOVATION on a larger scale in agriculture and greater participation of farmers in the process is the need of the hour.

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This was the recommendation of a day-long workshop organised by the Action for Social Advancement (ASA) at the Academy of Administration on Tuesday.

The need to open a debate on how to scale up latest innovative practices in agriculture was the objective of the workshop.

Various NGO representatives from Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand took part in the workshop. Addressing them, District Poverty Initiative Project (DPIP) coordinator Dr Ravindra Pastor said for innovation and technical up gradation of farming, farmers were as important as policies. Therefore, adequate attention should be paid to the two important aspects, he added.

A discussion was held on six recent agricultural innovations gaining popularity across the country. ASA director Ashish Mandal highlighted farmer-led seed producer companies; Raja Chakravarty of ‘Pradan’ group (West Bengal) talked on rice intensification system; National Livelihood Resource Centre’s Arun R Joshi focussed on participatory plant breeding; SK Patidar (Khandwa) dwelt on certification and marketing of organic cotton and Jennet Gedis on sloping agriculture land technology.