"District Jhalawar, Rajasthan has quite large number of SC population (>17%), which significantly involved in agriculture and other non-agricultural labour work. Due to very limited knowledge of farmers about the plant genetic resources, one-day workshop on PGR awareness was conducted at KVK, Jhalawar, on 07-03-2024 for SC beneficiaries for improving their livelihood. More than 100 farmers and women farmers from Jhalrapatan, Khanpur and Bhawanimandi tehsil and nearby villages were participated and benefited from the programme. Dr. Kailash ji Meena, Joint Director Agriculture Extension, was the Chief Guest of the programme. Dr.Kailash Sharma, Deputy Director, Horticulture, was the special guest. Dr. Arvind Nagar, SMS (Horticulture) welcomed the chief guest, officials from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, Dr. TC Verma, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK, Jhalawar and Dr. Nirmal Meena, Assistant professor, Horticulture, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar. Dr. Arvind also introduced the staff of the KVK, Dr. Mohmmad Yunus, SMS (Extension Education), Dr. Sewa Ram Rundala, SMS (Soil Science), Ms. Sunita Kumari, Technical Assistant, Sh. Goverdhan Ji, Agriculture superviser and Sh. Dinesh Kumar Choudhary, SRF (ARYA Project). Dr Subhash Chander and Dr. Pavan Kumar Malav, Scientist (SS) & Coordinators of the programme briefed the farmers about the SC-SP Programme and ICAR-NBPGR and the importance of National Genebank and importance of conservation of farmer’s varieties, landraces etc. Dr. Nirmal Meena, briefed about uses of the local and minor fruits in Jhalawar region and their processing to fetch better price in the market. Dr. Sewa Ram Rundala, SMS (Soil Science), informed about the various agronomic practices to improve the soil fertility and also about the balance use of fertilizers. Dr. Mohmmad Yunus, SMS (Extension Education), briefed about the new technologies for horticultural crops to farmers. Dr. Kailash Ji Sharma, Deputy Director, Horticulture, assured the farmers about any kind of help in relation to horticulture and crop protection. Chief guest of the programme, Dr Kailash Ji Meena addressed the farmers about the various government schemes related to agriculture for benefit of the farming communities. After interaction with participants, agriculture tools like battery operated Knapsack sprayers, gardening tool kits (Secateurs), grain storage bins, Tirpals, plastic crates and saplings of kinnow, papaya and lemon were distributed among the beneficiaries. The programme ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Pavan Kumar Malav, Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.

                                                            (Source :Dr. Pavan Kumar Malav, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi)