Basti/Lucknow: A four-day national training programme on “Management of Irrigation and Fertigation” commenced on Monday at the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Fruits, situated in Banjaria, Basti, under the Horticulture Experiment and Training Centre. The programme is being held from April 22 to April 25, 2025, under the joint initiative of the Government of India’s Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), MASHAV (Embassy of Israel, New Delhi), and the Uttar Pradesh Department of Horticulture and Food Processing.
The inaugural session was graced by Mr. Sarthak Agarwal, Chief Development Officer of Basti, who emphasized the transformative impact of drip irrigation techniques. Addressing the participants, he stated that drip irrigation enables farmers to maximize yield with minimal water, which is critical in today’s climate-resilient farming practices. He urged officials attending the training to promote this knowledge among farmers in their respective states.
The session was chaired by Yair Rubinstein, Agricultural Attaché from MASHAV, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to sharing cutting-edge agricultural technologies with India.
B.L. Meena, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Uttar Pradesh, encouraged the participants to ensure the practical implementation of drip irrigation in the fields to maximize farmer benefits.
On the first day, experts from Netafim Irrigation, including Mr. Prashant Pancholi and Mr. Sandeep Jawlekar, provided in-depth sessions on topics such as:
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Concept of Drip Irrigation
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Soil and Plant Relationship
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Selection of Drip and Sprinkler Systems
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Types of Micro Irrigation
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V.I.S. Standards for Efficient Water Use
Officials and horticulture department representatives from multiple states—including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana—are participating in the programme, many of whom are associated with Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence in their respective regions.
Joint Director Bhanu Prakash Ram, In-charge Officer Anish Kumar Srivastava, and Project Officer Brahmdev also addressed the gathering, highlighting the long-term benefits and practical applications of drip irrigation in fruit and vegetable cultivation. They emphasized its role in improving productivity, conserving water, and enhancing soil health.
This national-level programme aims to equip field officers and decision-makers with advanced knowledge, enabling better outreach and implementation of precision irrigation technologies across India’s farming communities.
