Dr. B.P Bhatt, Former director, ICAR- ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region (ICAR-RCER), Patna, interacted with scientists
Patna, (Odishabarta)
Dr. B.P Bhatt, former director, ICAR-RCER, Patna and principal scientist ICAR, New Delhi visited ICAR-RCER, Patna on March 13, 2024 and interacted with scientists. During the interaction, he shed light on the research constraints prevalent in the Eastern region and proposed potential solutions. Dr. Bhatt underscored the importance of policy-related research issues specific to Eastern India in order to gather greater attention and support for the region. Additionally, Dr. B.P. Bhatt proposed several critical points concerning the management of rice-fallow areas. He suggested preparing maps for these areas, paying special attention to varying moisture stress levels, and correlating them with the critical stages of different crops. Furthermore, he suggested promoting the cultivation of desert and semi-desert fodder crop species in rice-fallow areas to enhance fodder production. Moreover, to encourage agroforestry interventions, Dr. Bhatt advocated for the adoption of multi storeyed cropping systems and canopy management etc.
To enhance the visibility of our institute, Dr. B.P. Bhatt recommended mapping all the recommended varieties released by the institute for display purposes at farmers’ fairs and exhibitions. Moreover, he advised that during field visit, scientists should actively engage with farmers to understand their challenges in adopting new technologies.
At the conclusion of the program, Dr. B.P. Bhatt advised that scientists should collaborate effectively and prioritize farmer-centric research, as it will yield more fruitful results. Commencing the program, Dr. Anup Das, the Director of the Institute, extended a cordial welcome to the distinguished Dr. B.P Bhatt. He highlighted the institute’s current research initiatives and also provided a briefing on the recently established IARI-Patna Hub. In this meeting Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Head, DCR, Dr A.K Upadhyay, Head, DLWM and Dr Ujjwal Kumar, Head DSEE and other scientists were present and shared their opinion for advancement of agriculture in the Eastern region.
