Reliable agro/metroroligical forecast beneficial for agriculture

Srinagar, Jun 5 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Agriculture Abdul Aziz Zargar has said low per unit land yields are hovering over the agricultural scenario like an evil ghost due to non- reliable agro meteorological forecasts.

''Climatic changes, pollution and increase in Green House gases have led to regional, social, economic and livelihood concerns. We are late to think of Agromet Advisory Services. Data observation, recording and analysis of data should warn us of the coming climatic upheavals,'' the minister said.

Addressing participants at a seminar on ''District Agromet Advisory Services in J&K state'' organised by India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre, here today, he said none of the CAR institutes or state agriculture universities could come up with land or climatic specific agro techniques even at national level.

As we do not have adequate technology generation, he said and appealed to scientists of the versity to go for deep research rather imitate foreign research results.

He also assured both the Universities of the state to launch a massive research work to evaluate climatic changes and come up with options of climatic changes.

Mr Zargar said state needs national, regional and zonal technological back up to have short and long term policies for mitigating climatic changes.

Our state was not getting funds from ICAR like our neighbouring state universities and asked the management of the universities to utilize the funds judiciously in order to accrue more results from limited resources, he added.

Mr Zargar said scientists have a responsibility toward nation and expressed hope that our scientists will work with more wisdom for carrying out their research works in their respective areas.

Scientist community to make surveys and research at notable agriculture institutions like Wadura, Khudwani, Bandipora, Pombay and Kupwara, he quipped.

UNI BAS ASM SV RK1505