'Implement new improved technology to raise ground nut output': ICAR

Coimbatore: Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) emphasised the need to implement new improved technologies for increasing the productivity of ground nut, since the area was witnessing a decline.

Addressing the three-day Annual Workshop of All India Coordinated Research Project on Ground Nut, here, V Gopalakrishnan, Assistant Director General (Commercial Crops), ICAR, asked State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Centres to take collaborative research works to satisfy farmers' needs.

Dwelling on the groundnut research activity at various centres under All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Project at the national level, he also said due importance should be given to Strength Weakness Opportunities and Threat (SWOT) analysis to recognise the role of planners, managers and research during the 12th plan.

K Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University requested the participants--about 150 oil research scientists-- to carry out an in depth study of Rhizotron, its role in root ecosystem to enhance pod formats in groundnut. J A Mishra, Director, Directorate of Groundnut Research, Junagadh, who presented the highlights of groundnut research carried out in the last few years, released a book 'Ground nut, A crop profile and compendium of varieties notified in India.'