ICAC elevates Keshav Kranthi as Chief Scientist
January 26, 2021
Former director of CICR-Nagpur will now lead technical collaborative projects globally
Global cotton research and advisory body, International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), has elevated Keshav R Kranthi as the chief scientist.
The former director of Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, Kranthi had moved to Washington, US after ICAC appointed him as the head of technical services division in March 2017.
“Dr Keshav Kranthi the globally renowned cotton scientist who has served as Head of Technical Services for the ICAC since 2017 has been appointed Chief Scientist, reflecting recent changes both in his work and in the direction of the organisation,” an ICAC statement said on Tuesday.
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Sushil Manav
HARYANA’S cotton acreage of 7.38 lakh hectares in Kharif-2020 is not only the highest in the cotton belt of North India, comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, but also the maximum in any year so far for the state. The crop was grown on 7.01 lakh hectares in the state this time. There is a slight decline in productivity (production per hectare), though better prices have compensated farmers for the loss in yield.
“I harvested nearly 30 quintals per hectare of cotton last year, but this time, I could get only 22-23 quintals,” says Gurdial Mehta, a farmer from Panjuana village of Sirsa. He, however, adds that he could sell his crop for Rs 5,900 per quintal this year, far better than Rs 5,390 received last year.
1793 CONVENTIONALLY, crop diversification refers to farming wherein farmers cultivate a variety of crops and undertake enterprises on their farms.
Sushil Manav
CONVENTIONALLY, crop diversification refers to farming wherein farmers cultivate a variety of crops and undertake enterprises on their farms. Household food and income security were once the basic objectives of agricultural diversification. In recent times, however, crop diversification is being considered necessary to overcome impediments to the development of agriculture not only in Haryana, but also in the entire country.
The debate over the farm laws and the demand for ensuring MSP for various crops has turned the spotlight on crop diversification breaking away from the wheat-paddy cycle.
‘Pests, climate change and yield key worries’
January 07, 2021
Experts concerned about stagnant yield in India Climate change, insects and lower yield have emerged as top three big challenges that global cotton sector would have to battle for in the coming decade.
Researchers and experts from International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) were unanimous in raising concerns about the impact of poor yield, prevalent diseases, climate change and competition with man-made fibres as some of the top challenges for cotton crop during the decade through 2030.
Thirteen eminent cotton scientists awarded by ICAC as Researcher of the year since 2009 provided the outlook in an ICAC document Cotton Vision 2030.