Lucknow: A conference on micro irrigation was organised by the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) in association with the Uttar Pradesh Department of Horticulture, bringing together policymakers, agricultural experts, exporters, and industry representatives to discuss the growing importance of drip irrigation and sustainable farming practices in the state.
The event was attended by Uttar Pradesh Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh as the Chief Guest, while B P Ram participated as the Guest of Honour.
Addressing the gathering, speakers highlighted that drip irrigation is highly suitable for high-value crops, row crops, orchards, and vineyards. The system delivers water directly to the plant root zone, ensuring maximum water efficiency while significantly reducing evaporation and wastage. Experts noted that the technology is especially beneficial in arid regions, water-scarce areas, and uneven terrains where traditional irrigation methods are less effective.
The conference also underlined the Uttar Pradesh government’s continued efforts to create favourable conditions for the expansion of drip irrigation across the state. Officials said the adoption of modern irrigation techniques can play a major role in enhancing crop productivity while conserving water resources.
Among the key speakers was Mukesh Bahadur Singh, Chairperson, Indo American Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted the benefits of drip irrigation for farmers cultivating vegetables, fruits, and plantation crops such as tomatoes, peppers, bananas, grapes, coconut, and coffee. He pointed out that drip irrigation can reduce water consumption by 30 to 50 percent compared to conventional flood or overhead irrigation methods. He further noted that the technology performs effectively even on steep or irregular land surfaces, ensuring uniform water distribution.
During the conference, Mukesh Bahadur Singh also announced that a major exporters’ meet will be organised in Noida on June 12 to strengthen exports from Uttar Pradesh. The proposed meet will focus on agro food processing, horticulture produce, and other export-oriented sectors.
The conference was also attended by Arindam, Shobhit, Dr Rajeev Sharma, Sarvesh Singh, Navlesh Singh, along with several industry representatives and stakeholders from the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
The event concluded with B P Ram being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his distinguished and meritorious services in the field of horticulture and agricultural development.
