Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani, VC, VNMKV honoured with the prestigious “CHAI Honoured Fellow Award–2026” and “CHAI Lifetime Recognition Award–2026”

Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani, Vice Chancellor of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, was honoured with the prestigious “CHAI Honoured Fellow Award–2026” and “CHAI Lifetime Recognition Award–2026” by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini during the 15th Annual General Meeting held at Maharana Pratap Horticultural University on May 28, 2026. The awards were presented by the Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India in recognition of his outstanding contributions to agricultural education, research, academic leadership, and farmer-oriented technology dissemination.

मौजे आडगाव येथे एल-निनोच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर शेतकऱ्यांसाठी विशेष मार्गदर्शन बैठक संपन्न

 

यावर्षीच्या खरीप हंगामात एल-निनो चा प्रभाव राहण्याची शक्यता लक्षात घेऊन शेती क्षेत्रात योग्य नियोजन कसे करावे तसेच हवामानानुरूप तंत्रज्ञानाचा अवलंब करून संभाव्य संकटांना कसे सामोरे जावे, याबाबत शेतकऱ्यांमध्ये जनजागृती करण्यासाठी वसंतराव नाईक मराठवाडा कृषी विद्यापीठ अंतर्गत अखिल भारतीय समन्वयित कोरडवाहू शेती संशोधन प्रकल्पाद्वारे राबविण्यात येत असलेल्या एकात्मिक शेती पद्धती प्रकल्पांतर्गत मौजे आडगाव, ता. पालम येथे विशेष मार्गदर्शन बैठकीचे दिनांक २८ मे २०२६ रोजी आयोजन करण्यात आले होते.

या बैठकीचे आयोजन विद्यापीठाचे माननीय कुलगुरू प्रा. (डॉ.) इन्द्र मणि आणि संशोधन संचालक डॉ. खिजर बेग यांच्या मार्गदर्शनाखाली करण्यात आले. या बैठकीस परिसरातील शेतकरी मोठ्या संख्येने उपस्थित होते. बैठकीत वरिष्ठ शास्त्रज्ञ डॉ. गणेश गायकवाड यांनी उपस्थित शेतकऱ्यांना सविस्तर मार्गदर्शन केले.

यावेळी मार्गदर्शन करताना त्यांनी सांगितले की, एल-निनोमुळे पावसाचे प्रमाण कमी होणे, पावसाचे अनियमित वितरण होणे तसेच दुष्काळसदृश परिस्थिती निर्माण होण्याची शक्यता आहे. त्यामुळे शेतकऱ्यांनी खरीप हंगामासाठी आगाऊ नियोजन करून हवामान बदलाशी सुसंगत शेती तंत्रज्ञानाचा अवलंब करणे आवश्यक आहे.

पीक व्यवस्थापनाविषयी माहिती देताना त्यांनी कमी पाण्यावर तग धरणाऱ्या पिकांची निवड करणे, वेळेवर पेरणी करणे तसेच जमिनीतील ओलावा टिकवून ठेवण्यासाठी योग्य मशागत पद्धतींचा वापर करणे आवश्यक असल्याचे सांगितले. तसेच खत व्यवस्थापन करताना जमिनीच्या परीक्षणानुसार संतुलित खतांचा वापर करावा, सेंद्रिय खतांचा वापर वाढवावा आणि सूक्ष्म अन्नद्रव्यांचा योग्य प्रमाणात वापर करावा, असेही त्यांनी नमूद केले.

अंतरपीक पद्धतीचा अवलंब केल्यास उत्पादनातील जोखीम कमी होऊन शेतकऱ्यांना आर्थिक स्थैर्य मिळू शकते, असे त्यांनी सांगितले. यासोबतच रुंद वरंबा-सरी पद्धतीचा अवलंब केल्यास पावसाचे पाणी जमिनीत अधिक प्रमाणात मुरते, ओलावा टिकून राहतो आणि पिकांची वाढ चांगली होते, अशी माहिती त्यांनी दिली.

बैठकीदरम्यान शेतकऱ्यांनी विविध प्रश्न उपस्थित करून आपल्या शंकांचे निरसन करून घेतले. हवामान बदलाच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर शाश्वत शेती, जलसंधारण, पीक नियोजन आणि दुष्काळ व्यवस्थापन या विषयांवर सखोल चर्चा करण्यात आली.

हा कार्यक्रम यशस्वी करण्यासाठी प्रकल्पाचे मुख्य शास्त्रज्ञ डॉ. आनंद गोरे, वरिष्ठ शास्त्रज्ञ डॉ. गणेश गायकवाड तसेच श्री. सुरेश खटिंग यांनी विशेष परिश्रम घेतले. कार्यक्रमाच्या उत्कृष्ट नियोजनाबद्दल उपस्थितांनी समाधान व्यक्त करून आयोजकांचे कौतुक केले.

या कार्यक्रमास गावातील शेतकरी, ग्रामस्थ तसेच कृषी क्षेत्राशी संबंधित मान्यवर मोठ्या संख्येने उपस्थित होते.

VNMKV Students Shine at Pune Agri-Hackathon 2026

PG students Mr. Subhash Kumar and Ms. Vaishnavi of VNMKV have brought laurels to the University by securing the Runner-Up position at the Pune Agri-Hackathon 2026. Their innovative research work on a resource-efficient hybrid AI pipeline for digital plant phenotyping earned this recognition. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, along with Hon’ble Agriculture Minister Shri Dattatray Bharane, distributed cheques and awards to the winners and runners-up across various categories among startups, emerging entrepreneurs, and progressive farmers organized on 17 May 2026.

The students developed a novel digital plant library and AI-based solution aimed at supporting precision agriculture and benefiting farmers and researchers. University authorities, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Indra Mani and faculty members, congratulated the students on their remarkable accomplishment and wished them continued success.

Israel backs modern mango farming in Marathwada

Upgraded Kesar Mango Centre of VNMKV, Parbhani aims to improve yield and quality

The Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Kesar Mango on 12th May 2026 marked a significant step toward strengthening horticulture research and development in the region with the inauguration of its upgraded facilities at Fruit Research Station of VNMKV, Parbhani situated at Himayat Baugh, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The Consul General of Yaniv Revach lauded the Friends of Research Society (FRS) for taking modernization initiatives and upgrading the Centre of Excellence. Speaking at the inauguration, Revach emphasized that Indo-Israel collaboration would bring prosperity to agriculture in both India and Israel.

“To promote better agriculture and ensure the prosperity of Indian farmers, the Indo-Israel collaboration will combine technology with knowledge-sharing to improve both the quality and yield of crops. This initiative will benefit farmers in both countries. We will also facilitate training for experts by inviting them to Israel, who will, in turn, train farmers in the region in the future.”

The event was presided over by Dr. Indra Mani, Vice Chancellor of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth. The programme was attended by Sunil Wankhede, Dr. Mahesh Kulkarni, Brihma Dev, Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA), Marathwada region, and hundreds of mango growers from across the region. In his address, Dr. Indra Mani stated that efforts would be made to facilitate the training of experts in Israel at the earliest.

“The Indo-Israel collaboration will certainly help improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region. The fusion of technology and knowledge will work wonders.” He also appreciated the efforts of FRS in developing nearly one lakh mango saplings and consistently guiding mango growers to enhance productivity.

Shri. Sunil Wankhede expressed hope for large-scale sharing of mango rootstock and breeding material from Israel in the future. He noted that the Centre of Excellence would play a significant role in improving the financial condition of farmers. Officer-in-Charge and Project Officer of the Centre, Dr. Sanjay G. Patil, highlighted the important role of the CoE in disseminating modern mango production technologies through training programmes and field visits. He stated that the Centre has emerged as a model institution for modern horticulture development in Maharashtra. Assistant Horticulturist Dr. Ravindra Nainwad conducted the proceedings, and Sunil Wankhede proposed the vote of thanks.

Photo Caption: Dr. Indra Mani, Vice Chancellor of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, addresses mango growers during the inauguration of the newly upgraded facilities at the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Kesar Mango at Himayat Baugh, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Also seen are (from left) Dr. Mahesh Kulkarni, Sunil Wankhede, Consul General of Israel in Mumbai Yaniv Revach, and Dr. Sanjay G. Patil.