ICAR chief highlights progress made in agricultural research in Karnal
Dr ML Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Director General (DG) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), visited the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) on Wednesday. He addressed farmers, scientists and officials on the topic of “Improved Agricultural Practices for Atmanirbhar Bharat” at the Crop Harvest Day programme organised on the occasion.
Dr Jat outlined a compelling vision for natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and innovation in India’s agricultural research system.
He highlighted that the institute, established in 1969, was once located on land so saline that even grass could not grow, but today, it stands as a national leader in reclaiming saline and alkaline soils and enhancing their productivity, an important milestone in Indian agricultural science.
Dr Jat highlighted the growing complexity of challenges related to soil health, water resources, energy use and climate change, emphasising the need for integrated, science-driven solutions. He referred to a long-term research initiative with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), where multiple scenarios have been developed to evaluate the long-term impact of continuing current practices versus adopting improved interventions.
A key outcome of this initiative has been the adoption of no-tillage farming since 2009. This has led to significant energy savings and notable improvements in soil health. Soil organic carbon has increased from 0.45 per cent to over 1 per cent, alongside improved micronutrient availability and beneficial microbial populations, resulting in nearly 40 per cent reduction in fertiliser requirements.
