ICAR-IIAB Ranchi organizes Field Day on Rice

ICAR-IIAB Ranchi organized a field day on “Direct Sown and Transplanted Rice” on October 29, 2024 under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP). The event aimed to sensitize farmers on direct sown rice and improved rice cultivars. It also focused on disseminating information on the use of early rice varieties to optimize the use of fallow lands during the rabi season and improve crop intensity.

Dr. Sujay Rakhsit, director of ICAR-IIAB Ranchi, urged farmers to grow high-yielding, drought-tolerant rice varieties to improve their livelihoods and increase their income. He stressed the importance of using quality seeds and adopting integrated farming systems for optimal use of resources. He also noted that scientists are working hard to develop high-yielding rice varieties suitable for direct sowing conditions.

Earlier, Dr Vijai Pal Bhadana, Joint Director (Research), ICAR-IIAB Ranchi, addressed the farmers, highlighting that direct seeded rice is a valuable tool to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change. He encouraged farmers to carefully observe the separated materials and select suitable lines based on their experiences. He also explained the importance of participatory plant breeding.

More than 100 tribal farmers from nearby villages participated in the programme, which was coordinated by Dr Avinash Pandey, Dr Sudhir Kumar, Dr Jayanta Layek and Dr Khela Ram Soren of ICAR-IIAB in Ranchi.