The initiative emphasises on carbon sequestration to minimise agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and eventually limiting the impact of climate change on the farming community
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Zuari FarmHub (ZFHL) have established a new research collaboration to advance sustainable agricultural practices and boost farmer incomes in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. A public limited firm, Zuari Farmhub produces, markets, and distributes various fertilisers and other agricultural products.
In order to lower agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lessen the effects of climate change on the farming community, carbon sequestration will be given priority during the two-year project.
Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, and Madan Mohan Pandey, Managing Director of ZFHL, formalised the deal recently by signing a memorandum of agreement (MoA) in Hyderabad, India. Both sides expressed their excitement at the prospect of collaborating to create novel solutions that specifically address the requirements of farmers in India.
According to Pandey, significant concerns in Indian agriculture call for immediate attention, including declining organic content in soils, indiscriminate fertiliser usage, and a lack of knowledge.
In order to develop science-led solutions combining spatial data, modelling tools, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence, the project will take advantage of the FAO-accredited soil laboratory at ICRISAT.
In order to promote sustainable agriculture practices and raise farmer incomes, the partnership, according to Hughes, will draw on the knowledge of some of the top soil researchers in the world and cutting-edge scientific methods. But, proof of concept is still needed.
In order to demonstrate the viability of its science-driven solutions in enhancing soil for increased crop yields and revenue, ICRISAT will offer proof of concept in the first year of the project.
ML Jat, Research Program Director, Resilient Farm and Food Systems, ICRISAT expressed that pest and disease detection will make heavy use of artificial intelligence, and suggestions for soil nutrients will take farmers' budgets and projected yields into account.
Arvind Kumar, Deputy Director General for Research at ICRISAT, praised the new partnership and said it was crucial for integrating different viewpoints, knowledge, and data in scientific study to gain a more thorough understanding of the intricate and interconnected structure of soil systems.