VNMKV Vice Chancellor Hon'ble Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani visited PDKV AGROTECH 2024

 

On the occasion of birth anniversary of Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh State Level AGROTECH 2024 is organised at Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during 27 -29 December.

Hon'ble Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani Sir, Vice Chancellor, VNMKV, Parbhani visited AGROTECH 2024 with Hon'ble Dr. Sharad Gadakh Sir  Vice Chancellor, PDKV, Akola on 29 December.

During this visit Hon'ble Sir visited various exhibition stalls. Taken review guided the stall owners. Also Hon'ble Sir presented VNMKV Calendar 2025 to Hon'ble Dr Sharad Gadakh Sir and certificates, mementos to the stall owners, faculties and progressive farmers.

Success of Godavari Pigeonpea Variety : A Boost to Farmers' Prosperity - Hon’ble VC Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani

A field visit and farmers' meeting focusing on the Godavari Pigeonpea variety, released by Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, was successfully organized on 12 December in Pisre and Sarafdoh villages of Karmala taluka of Solapur district. The event, hosted by Pani Foundation, Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur (Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University) and ATMA Karmala, attracted significant attention from farmers and experts alike. 

The event was presided over by Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani, with the distinguished presence of Pani Foundation CEO Shri Satyajeet Bhatkal, Principal Scientist and Plant Breeding Dr. Deepak Patil, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) and Officer In-Charge Dr. K.T. Jadhav,  Pulse Breeder (MPKV Rahuri) Dr Nandkumar Kute, Soil Science  scientist (MPKV Rahuri) Dr Durgude, Taluka Agriculture Officer Shri Deorao Chavan, and Agricultural Officer Shri D.L. Mohite.

In his presidential address, Hon. Vice Chancellor Dr. Indra Mani, stated that to uplift the lives of farmers, the government established agricultural universities in Maharashtra. The knowledge confined within the walls of these universities has been effectively implemented in the field through the guidance of the Pani Foundation in Karmala Taluka. As a result, farmer groups participating in the Farmers Cup competition in Karmala taluka have embraced innovative practices, ensuring a record production of Pigeonpea in the region this year. Also this achievement will undoubtedly contribute to the progress of farmers, said Hon. Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani.

The event also featured guidance from Pani Foundation CEO Shri Satyajeet Bhatkal, Taluka Agriculture Officer Shri Deorao Chavan, and Agricultural Officer Shri D.L. Mohite. The program began with an introduction by Pani Foundation’s Regional Coordinator Satyawan Deshmukh.

The Godavari variety, cultivated using drip irrigation and adhering to standard operating procedures provided by the Pani Foundation, has demonstrated exceptional performance. Guided by Agricultural Research Station Badanapur scientists of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth Parbhani, farmers have reported remarkable outcomes, showcasing the variety's suitability for the region. 

During the event, farmers shared their positive experiences with the Godavari variety, which is now cultivated across approximately 400 hectares in Karmala taluka and is expanding in Solapur district. The crop is expected to yield over 10 quintals per acre this year, delighting farmers with its productivity and resilience. 

A highlight of the program was a question-and-answer session that allowed farmers to directly interact with experts. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. Indra Mani also recognized several farmers' groups and an individual farmer for achieving the highest Pigeonpea yield in the previous year's state-level crop competition.  The success of the Godavari Pigeonpea variety, combined with the dedication of scientists, the Pani Foundation, and farmers, underscores its growing popularity and potential to enhance agricultural productivity in the region. 

The proceedings were conducted by Taluka Coordinator Ashish Lad, while the vote of thanks was presented by Ajay Kumar Bagal from the ATMA Agriculture Department. Over 400 farmers from 35 farmers' groups of the in Karmala participated with major role from the "Jidd Shetkari Group" and "Jijau’s Leki Farmers Group", making it a significant gathering for the agricultural community.

VC Dr. Indra Mani presented Crop-Specific SOPs for Drone Application at the MoA&FW, New Delhi

The National-level meeting to finalize the report of Crop-Specific SOPs for Drone-Based Application of Soil and Plant Nutrients was conducted on 2^nd December 2024 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi under the chairmanship of Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Govt. of India).

During the meeting, Dr. Indra Mani, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, and Chairman of the Committee on Drone-Based Nutrient Application, presented a comprehensive report on the development of Crop-Specific SOPs for the Application of Soil and Plant Nutrients through Drones.

The report highlighted the development of crop-specific, technology-driven guidelines for the precise application of various soil and plant nutrients using drone technology. This initiative is poised to revolutionize agricultural practices, enhance input efficiency, and support sustainable farming.

Shri Devesh Chaturvedi commended the Committee's dedicated efforts and assured that the final SOPs would be approved and released soon, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of drone technology in Indian agriculture. This step is expected to facilitate wider adoption of drones in agriculture, leading to higher productivity, reduced input costs, and improved environmental sustainability.

The meeting witnessed the presence of several senior officials Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary, Er. C. R. Lohi, Deputy Commissioner (M&T), Shri A. N. Meshram, Deputy Commissioner (M&T), Smt. S. Rukmani, Joint Secretary, MoA&FW, New Delhi along with committee members and experts and viz., Dr. Sunil D. Gorantiwar, Former Head, Agricultural Engineering & Director (Research), MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra, Dr. Dilip Kumar Kushwaha, Scientist, Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, Dr. Pravin Vaidya, Head, Department of Soil Science, VNMKV, Parbhani, Maharashtra, Dr. Pazhanivelan, Director, Water Technology Centre, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Nadimpalli Rama Gopala Varma, Principal Scientist, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. 

The successful finalization of these SOPs is a landmark achievement that will strengthen the role of drones in Indian agriculture, ensuring that farmers have access to precision-driven solutions for nutrient management, thereby driving the country's vision for smart and sustainable agriculture.

To promote the use of drone technology in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, established five national-level committees to develop standardized guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various applications. The first committee, chaired by Dr. K. Alagusundaram and convened by Dr. Indra Mani, developed comprehensive guidelines for pesticide application using drones. The second committee, chaired by Dr. Indra Mani, drafted SOPs for spraying soil and crop nutrients, while the third committee, led by Dr. Ravi Prakash, created procedures for the use of drones in applying crop protection products. The fourth committee, again chaired by Dr. Indra Mani, developed crop-specific SOPs for pesticide application for ten key crops, ensuring customized guidelines for better pest management. Currently, the fifth committee, chaired by Dr. Indra Mani, Vice-Chancellor of VNMKV, Parbhani, is formulating crop-specific SOPs for soil and plant nutrient application using drones. These efforts aim to enhance the safe, efficient, and sustainable use of drone technology in Indian agriculture, boosting productivity, promoting environmental safety, and supporting the nation’s drive toward modernized farming practices.