AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

Agriculture in general is location and agro-climatic zone specific.  Technologies used in other countries are quite often required to be tailored to the needs, for sometimes, even new developments are needed. The Institutes and Centres of All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) on “Farm Implements & Machinery” are putting concerted efforts to increase the level of mechanization in the country. A new consortia research platform on “Farm Mechanization and Precision Farming” has been initiated in 12^th Plan to fast-track level of mechanization.

 

Research and Development achievements made on “Farm Mechanization and Precision Farming” during the past five years.

·         An android app (version 1.02) and an online web app has been developed to estimate top dressing dose of nitrogen fertilizer based on normalized difference index (NDVI) values obtained through green seeker sensor for rice and wheat crop.

·         Electromagnetic radiation profiles of mango have been studied to determine the most convenient methods of non-destructive defect detection. The information has been synthesized in the form of software for use in the non-destructive quality determination of mangoes.

·         Anthropometric data on Indian agricultural workers have been taken and relationships developed for design of appropriate tools for reduced drudgery in man-machine system and gender specific situations.

·         Rainfall patterns for Madhya Pradesh have been combined with soil characteristics to determine the rain harvesting options for different locations in the State.

·         Soil tool interactions have been studied in fully instrumented soil bins to study the tool wear and power requirements for efficient tool design.

·         Soyabean and its products have been characterized for their nutrition and consumption safety.

·         Cashew shells have been studied for their biochemical composition and combustion behavior with a view to design efficient energy generation system.

·         Vibrations transmitted from prime movers to operators have been characterized with a view to determine the methods of reducing vibration stresses on operators.

·         Physiology of fruits and vegetables under modified atmospheric conditions has been studied for selecting/designing suitable packaging systems.

·         Imaging techniques are being studied for precision application of inputs.

·         Animals physiology has been studied for enhancing the output of draught animals in agricultural operations.

·         Development of decision support software for tractor/machinery selection, design of irrigation system, etc.

 

            The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has taken initiative to adopt sophisticated farm equipment developed in other countries, to evaluate them under Indian conditions and to commercialize them by local manufactures for popularization under Indian conditions.

 

List of Practices/Equipment being propagated for modern farm equipment at par with advanced countries:

1. Laser guided land leveler
2. Pneumatic planters
3. Riding type rice transplanters
4. Sugarcane harvester
5. Multi-purpose hydraulic platform (developed by CIAE)
6. Automatic Litchi peeler
7. Cryogenic spice grinding system
8. Pomegranatae Aril extractor
9. Mechanized system for popping and decortications of Makhana seeds
10. Automatic Custard Apple pulper
11. Autoclavable microencapsulator

 

As has been informed in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 17^th March 2015 by Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria, for the advancement of Agriculture, Government uses Information Technology through Centrally sponsored scheme

(i)                 National eGovernance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A)

(ii)               Central Sector Scheme – Strengthening/Promoting Agricultural Informatics Systems.

 

Under both these Schemes, the funds are released to the State Governments or its designated Implementing agency for implementation of the Schemes. The schemes aim to effect computerization upto the Block level for dissemination of agriculture related information to the farming community through various ICT enabled delivery channels including SMSs, IVRs, Internet Kiosks, and Farmer’s Portal.

 

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has instituted a number of awards for various stakeholders like individual scientists/institutions/State Agriculture Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs)/farmers etc. for their outstanding achievements.