: Keeping in mind the acute water shortage, micro irrigation is taken to the next level through the technology of 'xylem tissues', a senior official in Indian Council of Agriculture Research said today.
"Xylem tissue is one of the two types of transport tissues in vascular plants and this technology has already been tested in coconut and needs to be tested for crops and other trees," Dr S Bhaskar, Assistant Director of General (Agro Forestry) ICAR, Delhi, said.
He was addressing a three-day national Congress on 'New Challenges and Advances in Sustainable Micro Irrigation' at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University by Water Technology Centre, being attended by 350 delegates from across the country.
Project Director of Delhi-based National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture, Naresh Modi, said adoption of farm implements for irrigation was becoming a challenge due to land fragmentation.
It was an opportunity for the scientific fraternity to provide appropriate technology suitable for our land holdings, he said.
Inaugurating the conference,Dr A K Singh,Vice Chancellor, RVS Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, emphasised the research priorities on measures to increase water use efficiency.
"Before we expect farmers to adopt our technology, the government should provide necessary infrastructure facilities to them. Government should invest in creating infrastructure for farmers, which is the foremost need of the farming community," TNAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr K Ramasamy said.
Farmers did not want subsidy but expected scientists to deliver good quality seed, inputs and assured water supply at least for three months, he said, adding that if government was dedicated to provide these three ingredients then farmers would definitely surprise with good yield.
Two farmers --M Parthsarathy of Govindapuram Village in Dharapuram and PVetrivelan of nearby Thondamuthur were presented with Best Micro Irrigation Farmers Award, a TNAU release said.
Four scientists-- Dr K Palanisamy, Former Director, WTC, Dr S Raman, Advisor, Gujarat Green Revolution Company, Vadodara, Dr R Sakthi Vadivel, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Dr.Goel, Retd.Professor, U.S.A., were given distinguished scientist awards for their outstanding work in the field of water.
Dr R K Sivanappan, WTC Founder Director, was conferred 'Lifetime achievement award' for his contribution in the field of Micro Irrigation.
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