Agri institute adopts 3 villages

Sikta village in Varanasi and Akodhi and Misauli villages in Naxal-affected Mirzapur and Chandauli districts respectively have been selected for the purpose. “In a survey,the research team found that the fields in Akodhi village in Mirzapur are suited for growing peas and grams because of the favourable geographical and soil conditions. The villagers,however,have no technical knowledge of proper cultivation of pea,” said Prof Shiv Raj Singh,director,Institute of Agriculture Sciences,BHU.

In Akodhi village,the institute has so far distributed 300 quintals of field pea of Malviya Matar-15 variety among 650 farmers. The institute produces this rust-resistant variety in its own laboratory and farmers will grow these seeds in their 1,500 (approx) beeghe land.

When the crop would be harvested in March-April,the institute would purchase the peas from farmers on price higher the prevailing market price. The institute would then grade the seeds in categories I,II and III,depending on their quality and size,following which it would be sold in the market. The profits would be used to prepare more quantity of seed of similar variety of peas.

“It will increase the earning of farmers and they would ultimately have food security,education and better health,” Singh said. In the survey,the institute teams found that fields in Misauli village (Chandauli) have a potential for wheat and paddy production.

The university is looking to adopt some villages where fish farming and other vegetable cultivation could be done.