Rajasthan government, after promoting drip irrigation system in a big way is now focusing on 'fertigation automation' method to increase farm efficiency in the desert state, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said.
Fertigation is the application of fertilisers, soil amendments or other water-soluble products through a controlled irrigation system which increases the farming efficiency and reduces environmental contamination.
Speaking at the one day seminar on this farming methodology, Gehlot said that agriculture sector was on the priority list of the state government and various initiatives were being taken to improve farming efficiency of farmers.
"The state is leading in sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation. Now the target for using fertigation automation in the state would be increased, he said. "Climate conditions of both Rajasthan and Israel are the same and techniques developed in Israel are useful in the state of Rajasthan. The fertigation automation techniques would also help farmers in increasing their farming efficiency," he said.
Gehlot informed that the government would take up another work in collaboration with Israel for irrigation management with saline water. Dinesh Kumar Goyal, Principal Secretary Horticulture, said 1960 hectare area out of targeted 2500 hectare area in the state has been covered with the automation method in 2012-13. "
As many 25 progressive farmers are also being provided a 5-day training from today so that they can further promote the method and can increase farming efficiency," Goyal said. In the technical session of the seminar organised jointly by the state government and Embassy of Israel at International Horticulture Innovation and Training Centre here, water expert from Israel, Uri Shani, delivered his views on future of efficient agriculture and irrigation.
Shani emphasised on efficiency to address increasing demand of agriculture products.
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