MoU signed for precision farming development centre in BAU

Ranchi, Oct 22 (UNI) With a view to establishing 'precision farming development centre', an MoU has been signed between National Committee on Plasticulture Application in Horticulture (NCPAH), Ministry of Agriculture, and Birsa Agriculture University (BAU).

The MOU was signed here yesterday by NCPAH Joint Secretary Prashant Mishra and BAU Director (reasearch) Dr B N Singh in presence of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr N N Singh.

Under the project, research, training and demonstration programmes would be carried out on drip, sprinkler and other micro-irrigation techniques, fertilisation, mulching, green house, shednet and polnyet house with the objective of developing and popularising models suitable for the agro-climatic and socio-economic condition of the region.

Initially study would be undertaken on precision farming technologies of okra, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, aonla and capsicum crops.

Speaking on the occasion, the NCPAH Joint Secretary said plastic was becoming all pervasive--from nursery development to marketing and NCPAH was mandated to promote plastic in agriculture and horticulture for better productivity and profitability.

''Farmers in the state, suffering from scarcity of water for agriculture could improve on their income and quality of life through application of low-cost plasticulture in farming'', he said.

BAU VC said farmers could save a lot of water energy and labour cost and ensure better return with plasticulture in agriculture.

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