Israeli scientists to train farmers in UP

Agricultural scientists from Israel will soon help farmers in Kannauj, the parliamentary constituency of Ms Dimple Yadav, in optimising their corps and increasing yield.

The Israeli scientists will impart training to farmers in latest technology in cultivation of vegetables through the upcoming “Centre of Excellence in Vegetables” at Umardha tehsil of the district. The scientists will provide them seeds to grow vegetables throughout the year. Kannauj has nearly 10,000 hectares of agricultural land where vegetables are grown.

According to Kannauj district magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha, the work on the project has already begun and the `10-crore project is expected to get completed soon. The district magistrate said that the farmers of Kannauj and other adjoining districts will now be able to grow vegetables throughout the year with the technique they will learn from Israeli scientists.

The farmers will get training as well as sees from the centre that is being set up in Umardha. The district horticulture officer Munna Yadav informed that the construction work has already started in nearly 8.6 hectares of land in Umardha to make farmers aware of advantages of poly houses, green houses, open houses and some of the latest international technology in cultivation of vegetables.

He said that vegetables grown in poly and green houses, open houses and shade nets have a longer shelf life and grow better. He said that this technique could help in tiding over the crisis of vegetables in off seasons. The Israeli farm technology, he added, was effective even in drought like conditions.

“Seeds of vegetables like tomato, green chilli, cabbage, pumpkin, gourd bottle, brinjal and cucurbits, will be provided and which can be cultivated even in off-season. Tomato plants grown by the new technique are almost ten feet tall compared to the traditional two or three feet tall plants. Cucurbit crops including musk melon can be grown in winter conditions as well and exotic vegetables can also find a place here”, he added.

The aim behind introducing new technique to farmers is to familiarise them with diversity in agriculture so that farmers can choose from value crop instead of usual cash crops like paddy and wheat. Drip irrigation, vertigation and intensive cultivation methods will also be taught to farmers to help them make the maximum utilisation of resources.