Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) has signed a landmark agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Bangkok, to promote climate-resilient farming, with a special focus on direct seeding of rice (DSR). This collaboration is part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-7) Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration Project.
Objectives of the Agreement
The primary goal of this partnership is to encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices. The agreement emphasizes the promotion of DSR through biological seed-treatment technologies, which are expected to reduce water usage, labor, and costs compared to traditional paddy transplantation methods.
Key Benefits Highlighted
HAU Vice-Chancellor Prof BR Kamboj stated that DSR technology not only conserves water but also lowers input costs, thereby increasing farmers' income. He noted that this initiative is a crucial step toward making agriculture more sustainable and resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Under the project, farmers will receive comprehensive training, technical guidance, and demonstration programs to familiarize them with modern and environmentally friendly farming technologies.
Role of Biological Seed Treatment
Dr Rajesh Gera, Dean of the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities and nodal officer of the project, explained that biological seed treatment improves soil health, boosts beneficial microorganisms, and enhances crop productivity. This technology will also help maintain ecological balance by reducing the reliance on chemical inputs in agriculture.
Implementation Strategy
FAO and HAU will jointly establish demonstration plots in selected areas to motivate farmers to adopt advanced DSR technology. These plots will serve as practical examples to showcase water conservation, improved land productivity, and sustainable food systems.
The agreement was signed by HAU Director of Research Dr Rajbir Garg on behalf of the university, while Takayuki Hagiwara signed for FAO. A six-member FAO delegation, including Lead Technical Officer Beau Damon, Senior Technical Officer Jitender Jaiswal, Technical Officer Sameer Karki, Agronomist Dr Matthew Champness, National Technical Coordinator Vinay Singh, and FAO Agronomist Dr Ashok Kumar, is currently on a two-day visit to the university. The delegation held detailed discussions with the Vice-Chancellor on various aspects of the project.
