"The total area of Hardoi district is 5,986 km2and more than 31% population belongs to Scheduled caste community, 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 Atiya Majhigawan, Block Kothawan, District Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh on 11 March, 2024 for SC beneficiaries for improving their livelihood. 250 farmers (men/women) from Majhigawan, Sikanderpur, Badsara, Bahadurpur, Bhengaon, Jarowa, Govindpur (Shyampur), Shivpur etc. villages of Kothawan block were participated and benefited from the SCSP programme. Sh. Ashok Kumar Rawat, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Mishrikh loksabha constituency) was Chief Guest and Sh. Rampal Verma, MLA (Balamau constituency) were the special guest. Dr. PK Singh welcomed the chief guest, officials from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, KVK Hardoi-II and participating farmers and women’s. Dr. PK Singh briefly discussed about the role and importance of ICAR-NBPGR for conservation of traditional landraces and farmers varieties to the farmers.Dr. SK Kaushik, Nodal Officer SCSP scheme, briefly described about the SCSP scheme and its relevance for SC farmers benefits. Dr. Pankaj Kannaujia, Scientist (SS) & Coordinator of the programme briefed the farmers about the list of items to be distributed during the programme to the farmers/women’s. Dr Subhash Chander, Scientist (SS), briefed about the conservation of plant genetic resources by cryopreservation and tissue culture techniques. Dr. Pankaj Nautiyal, Head, KVK briefly discussed about the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra for betterment of farmers and urged the farmers to join different types trainings, viz. crop protection, management of horticulture orchards, processing of agri-horticultural products etc. being organized by KVK, Hardoi. Dr. Anjali Sahoo, SMS (Home Science), encouraged women’s to utilize the sewing machine for preparing the latest designing cloths/dresses and can be marketed using online platform. Dr. Traloki Singh, SMS (Agronomy) briefly discussed about the various agronomic practices for enhanced yield of agricultural crops andDr. T.N. Rai, SMS (Soil Science) told about the soil fertility and balance use of fertilizers. Chief Guest of the programme, Sh. Ashok Kumar Rawat addressed the farmers and suggested for better utilization of the provided agricultural inputs. Sh. Rampal Verma addressed the farmers and appreciated the ICAR-NBPGR for their role in plantgenetic resources conservation and urged to farming communities for better utilization of material supplied by ICAR-NBPGR for SC beneficiaries. At the end of the programme, agricultural tools/inputs like manually operated knapsack sprayers, gardening tool kits (Budding grafting knife, weeding trowel, spade, Watering can, hedge sheer), foldable plastic crates, 20 kg rice seed, chargeable torch and Sewing machine (50 ladies) were distributed to SC beneficiaries. The programme ended with vote of thanks by Sh. Narendra Singh, Manager late Shri Kotpal Singh Adarsh Bal Vidiya Mandir Samiti, Atiya Majhigawan, Hardoi.

                                                            (Source :Dr. Pankaj Kumar Kannaujia ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi)