Even about 5% utilization of the total ash produced in the country by farmers could help in extensive agri yield resulting in food security and increase in GDP growth. These were some of the observations made at the national level workshop on “Safe Use of Fly ash in Agriculture” jointly organized by NTPC , the largest power producer in the country under the aegis of Indian Institute of Soil Science in Bhopal. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of M.P. and Shri Kaushal Kishore Sharma, Director (Operations), NTPC and Dr. S.K. Choudhary, ADG, ICAR, New Delhi.
Eminent agriculture scientists presented their findings based on the research on use of fly ash on various types of soil and crops under different agro climatic conditions during the workshop. It was informed that to promote utilization of fly ash in agriculture sector demonstration projects had been carried out at farms and fields in the vicinity of the thermal power stations under the guidance of agriculture scientists. The results have shown that fly ash use provides essential nutrients to the soil increasing crop yield.
Fly ash is by product of the power generation from coal based thermal power stations has been found useful in many ways including increasing the agriculture productivity by the research and demonstration projects carried out by many research institutes and agriculture universities at national level under Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. Use of fly ash also helps in reduced pest incident on the crop and CO2 emission mitigation.
It was concluded that aadvanced research study will be carried out by Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal under the guidance of Indian Council of Agriculture Research across five locations in the country on different types of soils , agro climatic conditions and various crops, vegetables etc in OUAT ,Bhubaneswar , Bhidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidhyalaya in West Bengal, IGFRI, Jhansi, IISS in Bhopal and IARI, New Delhi.
The workshop was attended by eminent Scientists from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishvavidhyalay, OUAT, IGFRI,Jhansi, NBRI, Lucknow, AMPRI, Bhopal, IISS, Bhopal, CIMFR, Dhanabad and Senior officials from Ministry of Power, Shri S.N. Ganguly, Regional Executive Director of NTPC, scientists from Indian Council of Agriculture Research etc.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes the very best.