Experts for collaborative research on wheat, barley

Hisar, Aug 21 (UNI) To achieve a quantum jump in the production of wheat and barley, experts today called for collaborative research by breeders and scientists working on quality programmes.

This was one of the recommendations made by experts who attended four-day Wheat and Barley Research Workers Meet which concluded at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural Univesity (CCS HAU) here.

More than 300 participants who attended the meet from all over India and abroad were of the view that as compared to production programmes of the foodgrain crops, adequate efforts had not been taken up for enhancement of nutritional qualities.

University Vice-Chancellor J C Katyal said the major part of the Indian population as also of agricultural soil was deficient of nutrition. Therefore, the experts emphasised collaboration among breeders and nutritionists.

The V C said the participants resolved to meet the increasing demand of various industrial wheat products by developing product specific varieties.

At the crop protection front, he said, the participants recommended holding of refresher courses on techniques of crop protection during crop season.

Emphasis was also given on dissemination of management and control technologies of disease like Karnal bunt, loose smut, flag smut, termites and root aphid and other pests and insects.

Dr Katyal said the meet identified nine varieties for cultivation in various regions of the country.

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