Assam: Rice varieties must gain farmers’ trust, says scientist Arun Kumar Pathak
Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: Internationally acclaimed agricultural scientist and rice researcher Arun Kumar Pathak on Sunday said developing new rice varieties alone is insufficient unless farmers accept and trust the seeds.
Addressing the mid-term session of the Doomdooma Senior Citizens’ Association in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district, Pathak said agricultural research can succeed only when improved seed varieties are accepted and effectively adopted in the field.
Pathak, who has developed more than 20 rice varieties, highlighted the contribution of high-yield and flood-resilient paddy varieties such as Ranjit, Bahadur, Kushal, Bhogali, Luit, Kopili and Jalashree in increasing rice production in Assam.
He also said emerging technologies, including robotics, are likely to bring significant changes to the agricultural sector in the coming years.
Pathak was felicitated during the programme, which was attended by nearly 100 senior citizens.