Events PJTSAU

SR&TC, Rajendranagar - Mechanical HDPS cotton picking day - Organized on 8.12.2022

Seed Research & Technology Centre, Rajendranagar organized “Mechanical HDPS cotton picking harvest day” on 8.12.2022 from 10.30 AM to 2.00 PM to demonstrate harvesting using mechanical picker in four Bt cotton hybrids viz., THCT-5376, THCT-21-7964, RCH-665 and THCT-5380 developed by M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd. The programme began the Chief Guest Sri K.Z.Hanmanthu, Special Commissioner, Govt. Telangana State and Guest of Honour Dr.V. Praveen Rao, former hon’ble Vice Chancellor, PJTSAU inaugurating the newly acquired drone fb field capturing of the Electronic Wing, PJTSAU. The guests along with other participants then proceeded to the demonstration of cotton picker in the field. Sri N. Saravanan, Head Marketing, M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd. detailed the functioning of cotton picker and its efficiency in picking only burst bolls while retaining the green unburst bolls intact on the plants. He also explained about the trash removing screens inside the picker. He discussed about the pros and cons of defoliant use and the possible ways to reduce dried leaf trash content on cotton puffs. Following this, Sri K.Z.Hanmanthu, Special Commissioner, Govt. of Telangana State inaugurated the shade-net house of Dept. of Seed Science and Technology, Rajendranagar. The guests enquired with Dr.P.Sujatha, Associate Professor, DSST, SR&TC about the activities to be taken up in the net house and suggested to ensure proper maintenance. Then they visited the Agri-photo voltaic unit of Water Technology Centre at SR&TC, Rajendranagar and discussed about the trial initiated under the solar panels. Later all the participants assembled in the meeting arena wherein Dr. P. Bindu Priya, Scientist (Plant Breeding), SR&TC, Rajendranagar welcomed the dignitaries on to the dais. Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU detailed the purpose of the meeting and gave an overview about HDPS trials being conducted in the university and importance of mechanization in this system. He mentioned that Dr.V.Praveen Rao is the think-tank of the university as he constantly gives new ideas and guides the staff in implementing them. Dr. Y. Praveen Kumar, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Adilabad interacted with the gathering and gave details about the demonstrations being conducted in HDPS cotton in farmers’ fields. He stated that most of the farmers practicing HDPS in cotton are satisfied with the results and are looking forward to take up the same in coming years also. Dr.R.Uma Reddy, Associate Director of Research (CTZ) expressed his satisfaction regarding performance of HDPS and requested for further research on canopy management in black soils and timing and dosage of the plant growth regulator spray. Dr. J. Hemanth Kumar, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Wyra informed that three cotton hybrids (NCS-2778, NCS-927 and RCS-665) from Nuziveedu Seeds and Rasi Seeds were cultivated under HDPS in around 500 acres in farmers’ fields. He also informed that about 10 to 12 quintals yield per acre is expected and that the farmers have shown interest and satisfaction in this technology. District Agricultural Officers from Sanga Reddy, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts have shared their views on HDPS cotton and informed that although continuous rains with intermittent dry spell have affected the cotton yields, HDPS cotton yields are expected to be greater by 1.5 to 2.0 quintals per acre than normal cotton yields. Later, Sri N. Saravanan, Head Marketing, M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd. briefed about the background of HDPS in IndiA. He elaborated that though India ranks second in world’s cotton production, it stands at 35th rank in productivity owing to very low yields in certain parts of the country thereby bringing down the national average. It was for these areas, technologies like HDPS have evolved to improve the yields in red soils under rainfed ecosystem. He stressed that Rasi Seeds has already developed first and second generation cotton hybrids bred exclusively for HDPS and is determined to improve the yields under rainfed ecosystem. He added that plant growth regulator may be used to restrict the plant height to not more than 90 or 100 cm. Sri Kishore Wagh, Manager HDPS, M/s. Shaktiman Pvt. Ltd. opined that farm mechanization is of utmost importance in the current mounting labour availability issues and when roped in through FPOs or other organizations, farm machinery can reduce the cost of cultivation. He stated that sowings done with planter machines will enable further mechanization in field operations like sprayings, intercultivation, harvesting, etc. He opined that complete mechanization in HDPS cotton is especially important for light soils with low productivity. Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Former hon’ble Vice Chancellor, PJTSAU expressed his happiness on the level to which HDPS cotton trials are being taken up within university and also in farmers’ fields. He however opined that unless this technology penetrates into much deeper levels in a large scale, the purpose may not be fulfilled. For this, he suggested strong association and partnerships between university, agriculture department and industry and called upon the key role to be played by agriculture department officials in expanding the technology. He stated that HDPS is a yield enhancing technology and long term plan in-line with farmers’ perspective should be formulated for risk management and income generation. He stated that plant size in terms of boll weight and boll number for a particular ecosystem should be worked out and that plant growth regulators should be used at 70 to 75 per cent boll maturity. Sri K.Z.Hanmanthu, Special Commissioner, Govt. Telangana State expressed his happiness regarding the efforts being taken up by the university in evaluation and promotion of HDPS cotton. He added that completely mechanized HDPS with improved yields and reduced cultivation costs is a boon to rainfed farmers and encouraged the university and department officials to upscale the activities. He said that he was delighted to visit the trial being conducted in the Agri-photo voltaic unit and expressed his interest in knowing the results of the trial. Later, Dr. P. Jagan Mohan Rao, Director (Seeds) stated that the HDPS trial at SR&TC, Rajendranagar was taken up in light soils under rainfed system and under complete mechanization except for sprayings which were taken up manually. The meeting ended with vote of thanks proposed by Dr. P. Jagan Mohan Rao, Director (Seeds) who thanked Dr.V.Praveen Rao, Former hon’ble VC, PJTSAU for his dynamic ideas and Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU for his guidance and support in implementation. He also thanked all the dignitaries and other participants for gracing the occasion and sharing their views and experiences.

Weather / soil / rainfall based canopy management strategies shall be worked out.
In depth studies on defoliants regarding timing, dosage and efficiency under array of situations may be carried out.
Genotype x defoliant interaction studies may be taken up.
Studies on post-defoliant spray green boll bursting may be taken up.
Refinement in machine picker to increase the picking quality efficiency (like reducing trash content, non-damage of green bolls, etc.).
Quality studies on machine picked kapas regarding staple length, ginning out turn, Gtex, etc.
Formulation of soil / weather based seed to seed package may be developed and demonstrated.
Plant type with respect to number of bolls per plant and boll weight may be worked out for different ecosystems.
Nutrient management including foliar nutrition shall be worked out.

List of participants attended ‘Mechanical HDPS cotton picking harvest day’:

Sri K.Z.Hanmanthu, Special Commissioner, Govt. Telangana State (Chief guest)
Dr. V.Praveen Rao, Former hon’ble Vice Chancellor, PJTSAU (Guest of Honour)
Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU
Dr.V.Sudha Rani, Director of Extension, PJTSAU
Dr. P. Jagan Mohan Rao, Director (Seeds), PJTSAU
Sri N. Saravanan, Head Marketing, M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd.
Sri R.Suresh Babu, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd.
Sri A.S.N. Reddy, COO, M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd.
Sri Kishore Wagh, Manager HDPS, M/s. Shaktiman Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Ch. V. Durga Rani, University Head, Genetics and Plant Breeding, PJTSAU
Dr.P.Raghu Rami Reddy, Principal Scientist (Rice) & Head, IRR, PJTSAU
Dr.R.Uma Reddy, Associate Director of Research (CTZ), PJTSAU
Dr. Kalapana Shastry, Director (AgHub), PJTSAU
Dr.V.Thirumala Rao, Principal Scientist (Cotton), PJTSAU
Dr. Y. Praveen Babu, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Adilabad, PJTSAU
Dr. J. Hemanth Kumar, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Wyra, PJTSAU
Dr. A. Rama Krishna Babu, Coordinator, DAATTC, Palem, PJTSAU
Sri Rahul Vishwakarma, Coordinator, DAATTC, Jogipet
Sri J. Narasimha Rao, DAO, Sanga Reddy
Smt. S. Geetha, DAO, Ranga Reddy
Smt. Sucharitha, DAO, Nalgonda
District Agricultural Officers of Sanga Reddy, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts
Heads of local stations, PJTSAU
Staff of M/s. Rasi Seeds Ltd. & M/s. Shaktiman Pvt. Ltd.
Teaching and non-teaching staff of SR&TC, PJTSAU
Students of dept. of Seed Science and Technology, PJTSAU