‘Bio-resources Have to be Converted to Bio-economy’

A Correspondent

JORHAT: “Many programmes have been launched by the Government of India for doubling farmer’s income, micro-irrigation, skill development, employment generation, and women empowerment. All this is possible through horticulture and this is the only option for achieving all these goals. We have organized a dedicated brainstorming session on farming, artificial intelligence and the application of censor technology in agriculture,” said Dr.T Janakiram, ADG-ICAR, New Delhi, who attended as the chief guest at the inaugural function of the XXVI Annual Group meeting of All India Co-ordinate Research Project on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Betel Vine (AICRP-MAP &B) that was held at the board room of the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in Jorhat on Sunday.

The ICAR-ADG said that the use of drones was becoming very popular in case of plantation crop. “We can use drones for plant protection and we have signed MoU with an NGO for this purpose. In a brainstorming session, many big companies dealing with agricultural machinery were called and we made a roadmap for the future for research,” he said.

“We have bio-resources but these bio-resources have to be converted to bio-economy. The medicinal plant directorate came up 15 years ago and it is working in this area. Medicinal and aromatic plants are now getting importance,” said Dr Kamal Malla Bujarbaruah, the Vice-Chancellor of AAU during his presidential address.

Dr. P Manivel, the Project Co-coordinator of AICRP-MAP &B and Director of ICAR –Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (Anand) said during the last five years thousands of quality planting materials and seeds of an improved variety of medicinal and aromatic plants as well as betel vines were produced and distributed to farmers. Many farmer groups from within and outside the State visited centres for learning about technological development for improved medicinal and aromatic plants production. At the same time, high-yielding varieties were released and well adopted by farmers for improving their income.