ICAR - Central Arid Zone Research Institute

Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi visited Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur on 15th October 2014. During this visit, he was accompanied by Shri Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (MP), Jodhpur and Shri PP Choudhary, MP, Pali. They took a round of select institute facilities and field areas and were appraised about the various activities of the institute.

Dr. MM Roy, Director, CAZRI welcomed the Minister and other dignitaries and made a brief presentation about the inception, research and extension accomplishments and future strategies.

An interactive session with the Hon’ble Minister was attended by Directors of all ICAR institutes in Rajasthan; Directors of Agriculture University, Jodhpur; Project Coordinators of AICRPs/AINPs and government officers at Jodhpur; Programme Coordinators of KVKs at Jodhpur and Bhuj and farmers, besides the scientists and staff at CAZRI. During his address, Hon’ble Minister appreciated the efforts of CAZRI for arid regions of the country and stressed the need for more emphasis on marketing of products developed at this institute. He advised the farmers to adopt improved cultivars and agro-techniques developed by ICAR institutes and SAUs in this region. The Hon’ble MPs stressed upon wider dissemination of technologies for improving livelihood of the farmers of this region. The Hon’ble Minister laid the Foundation Stone of CAZRI Sports Complex and released 7 Hindi and 1 English publications of CAZRI on this occasion.

Earlier, Dr. MM Roy, Director, CAZRI welcomed the Minister and other dignitaries and made a brief presentation about the inception, research and extension accomplishments and future programs of the institute.

The visit was coordinated by Dr. RK Bhatt, Head of Division at CAZRI.

The vote of thank was proposed by Dr. RK Kaul, Principal Scientist, CAZRI.

(Source: ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur)