Jaisalmer: Union minister of state for agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary and ICAR Director General M L Jat will formally inaugurate India’s first dedicated millet research centre Sunday at Gudamalani in Balotra district. The foundation stone of the centre was laid three years ago.India cultivates pearl millet on around 9.8 million hectares, producing approximately 9.4 million tonnes annually. Rajasthan alone accounts for around 3.75 million tonnes, nearly 42% of the country’s total production, making the state a key hub for millet cultivation and research.Head and project coordinator of the centre, S N Saxena, said the foundation stone of the building was laid by the then Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sept 27, 2023, and the facility has been completed exactly three years later.Saxena said the new building was fully equipped with laboratories and farm areas, enabling millet research at Gudamalani, whose climate was highly suitable for the crop. As Rajasthan was India’s largest millet producer, research conducted there would have major relevance, with global-level studies planned at the centre in the coming years.He said the scientific team currently comprises five scientists. More than 1,000 farmers have been invited to the inaugural programme, where they will be briefed about the research benefits and how they can use the technologies developed at the centre.Several millet hybrids developed and cultivated across the country have also been planted at the centre. Farmers will be able to visit the plots and assess which hybrids are best suited to their local conditions.The All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet previously had 13 centres across the country, while the national-level research coordination was based at Agriculture University, Jodhpur. To bring millet research activities together at a single location, the ICAR facility earlier located in Jodhpur has now been shifted to Gudamalani.The new campus will focus on developing drought-resistant varieties, new hybrid varieties, quality seed production and crop-management practices suited to arid regions. The research is expected to directly benefit farmers in Barmer, Balotra, Jalore and neighbouring districts.The centre will also facilitate direct interaction between farmers and scientists.An agricultural technology exhibition will be organised during the programme.
