Visit of Director of Research, PJTSAU and Training programme on “Sunflower Production Technology” at ARS, Tornala on 20-02-2024

Dr. P. Raghu Rami Reddy, Director of Research, PJTSAU visited ARS, Tornala on 20-02-2024 for review of the technical programme. Enroute to ARS, Tornala, Dr. P. Raghu rami Reddy, Director of Research, PJTSAU along with Dr. S. Sridevi, Principal Scientist and Head, ARS, Tornala and Dr. E. Umarani, Scientist (Pl. Br.) visited sunflower fields of Ghanapur, Bussapur, Chinnakodur and Metpalli villages in Siddipet District. At the outset Dr. P. Raghurami Reddy, Director of Research, PJTSAU interacted with the farmers of sunflower to know the major challenges in sunflower cultivation and the reasons for the decline in the area. Later, he enlightened the farmers about the best management practices in sunflower like, selection of land, hybrid, sowing time and method, nutrient management, irrigation management, measures to take up for good seed filling etc. Further, he also suggested measures to be taken for better soil health management strategies like crop residue management and green manuring especially in Maize-Sunflower, Rice-Sunflower and cotton- Sunflower cropping systems. He also encouraged the farmers about the bee keeping in sunflower to have additional income. Later, he interacted with the members of FPO Chinnakodur and educated about the seed production in rice and value addition in sunflower. In continuation, Director of Research participated in Training programme on “Sunflower Production Technology” at Agricultural Research Station, Tornala. Farmers from different villages like Bussapur, Venkatapur, Chinnakodur and Narayanraopet visited the training programme and raised different queries like how to menace wildboar and monkey damage in sunflower, soil fertility status by continous cultivation of sunflower and main focus on increase of Minimum Support Price of sunflower and Director of Research addressed all the queries and suggested the farmers about new crop production technologies to raise a good crop, adoption of Good Agricultural Practices like maintenance of recommended spacing, fertilizers and taking care against birds and wildboar damage mainly in sunflower. He also mentioned about usage of multi crop shredder to increase the soil organic carbon there by enrich the soil microorganisms and water storage capacity of soil. He also stressed on importance of green manure crops and its in-situ incorporation, adoption of crop rotation, cultivation of sunflower under zero tillage and usage of PJTSAU recommended varieties and hybrids in various crops. Dr. S. Sridevi, Principal Scientist and Head, ARS, Tornala mentioned about the enrichment of soil fertility, advised the farmers about the incorporation of maize stubbles, taking up pulse crops like greengram as a greenmanure for dual purpose, soil test based fertilizer application etc. Dr. A. Ramadevi, scientist (Entomology) , ARS, Tornala explained about the management of stem borer in paddy by following mass trapping method (installation of pheromone traps in large scale). Further, Dr. P. Raghu rami Reddy, Director of Research, PJTSAU reviewed technical programme of each and every scientist by visiting their experimental fields and suggested necessary improvements. After the review of technical programme discussed about the budget position of ARS, Tornala.