ARS, Tornala conducted a Farmer Scientist interaction on Production Technologies in Rabi Sunflower under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) on 15-02-2023 and visit to seed production plots of new hybrid Tilhan Tech SUNH-1

A Farmer Scientist interaction on “Production Technologies in Rabi Sunflower under Scheduled Caste SubPlan (SCSP) and visit to seed production plots of Tilhan Tech SUNH-1” was organized by ARS, Tornala. At the outset, Dr. S. Sridevi, Principal Scientist and Head, ARS, Tornala has welcomed the chief guests of the programme, Dr. R.K. Mathur, Director, ICAR-IIOR, Rajendranagar and Dr. P. Jagan Mohan, Director (Seeds), PJTSAU, Rajendranagar. She appraised about mandate and technologies developed by ARS, Tornala. Later, she also explained about the objectives of the SCSP programme. Later, a farmer scientist interaction was conducted, Dr. R.K. Mathur, Director, ICAR-IIOR, explained in detailed the queries raised by the farmers. He also encouraged about the importance of the farmer producer organizations. Further, he also encouraged the farmers to grow oilseed crops and also oil palm cultivation. Followed by, Dr. P. Jagan Mohan, Director (Seeds), PJTSAU, detailed about the newly released varieties from PJTSAU, role of seed in raising good crop to achieve good yields, importance of crop rotation and growing oilseed crops to meet vegetable oil demand. Further, Dr. D. Swetha, Scientist (Agro.), ARS, Tornala addressed the gathering about the agronomic practices to be followed for better yields in sunflower crop. After that, Mr. Y. Devaiah, Sarpanch, Tornala and Mr. Sadashiva Reddy, Sarpanch Bussapur shared their experiences about the sunflower crop and thanked ARS, Tornala for making them as a part of SCSP programme. Under SC sub plan tarpaulins were distributed to 51 beneficiary farmers covering three villages (Tornala; 20, Narsapur; 10, Bussapur: 21) of Siddipet District. Later the team of scientist and farmers visited the breeder seed production plots of Tilhan Tech SUNH-1 hybrid, Dr. E. Umarani, Scientist (Pl. Br.) explained bout the new hybrid Tilhan Tech SUNH-1 which can yield 8-10.5 q per acre and having high oil content and resistant to downy mildew. Dr. G. Suresh, Principal Scientist (Agro.), Dr. Mangesh Y. Dudhe, Sr. Scientist (Pl. Br.), Dr. C. Manimurugan, Senior Scientist and Dr. H. P. Meena, Sr. Scientist from ICAR-IIOR, Mrs. A. Saritha, Scientist (Pl. Br.) and Dr. N. Sainath, Scientist (SSAC) from ARS, Tornala and 51 farmers attended the programme.