Workshop and exhibition on pulses diversity

Bhubaneswar: Prof. Radhamohan, a well known expert working for sustainable development inaugurated the two days workshop on pulses diversity and the exhibition with performing seed puja on Saturday in Bhubaneswar. Two days workshop was held at Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) in Bhubaneswar.

Jointly organised by Desi Bihan Surakshaya Manch and RMNH, the conference   was attended by Scientists, government officials, farmers and representative from civil organisations.

Prof. Radhamohan said that the major reason of decline of pulses cultivation has been the green revolution which focused only on rice and wheat.

The major areas of deliberations were the diversity of pulses, decline of pulses production, malnourishment, soil enrichment, production of quality seeds, timely supply of seeds to farmers, minimum support price, crop insurance for pulses cultivation and loss of foreign exchange due to import of pulses.

Experts opined that it is high time for the government to review the focus of research in order to enhance areas of cultivation and productivity of pulses. There should be re-orient of research on crop improvement based on local varieties.

Prasant Mohanty, Executive Director of NIRMAN presented the overview of the pulses scenario and constraints and prospectus in the state of Odisha.  He said the Government should make serious efforts to increase area of pulses cultivation and its productivity. They should take steps to encourage pulses cultivation in 12 lakh hectares     of rice-fallows. Pulses varieties like pigeon pea, rice bean, country beans and cowpea grown in tribal regions should be given government’s support for procurement, processing and insurance cover. Farmers have to suffer in absence of processing facilities, absence of MSP, he observed

Farmer leader Lingaraj, Seed conservationist Sabaramatee, Aditya Singdeo, Raj Kishor Mukherjee, Soumik Banerjee, Nishant Maharale, Ramgulab Sinha, Kailash Dandpat, Prof. Debaraj Lenka, Hemalata Rajput, Padan Jain, Pramod Pradhan, Ghasiram Panda, B.N. Durga,  Ekadashi Nandia, Sudesna Mishra, Jaga Kirsani and Suresh Bisoi participated in the workshop.  About 62 varieties of pulses were exhibited during the workshop.