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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    EXTENT OF AGROCHEMICAL USE IN RICE CULTIVATION: A STUDY IN BARGARH DISTRICT OF ODISHA
    (RPCAU, Pusa, 2023) PATRA, UTTAM KUMAR; ANSARI, M. N.
    Agriculture is a vital source of livelihood for the majority of the Indian population, but its intensification has adversely affected the economic capacity and sustainability of small farming systems. This intensification has led to a significant increase in the use of production inputs such as modified seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, resulting in bumper crop yields. However, the so-called "green revolution" has also brought about unforeseen consequences in the form of chemical pollution. The rampant use of pesticides, particularly in crops like cotton, rice, and vegetables, has led to altered pest scenarios, outbreaks of deadly diseases, environmental degradation, and increased input costs, driving many farmers into debt. To address this issue, a study entitled "Extent of agrochemical use in rice cultivation: A study in Bargarh district of Odisha" was conducted to achieve the following objectives: Assess the socio-economic and personal characteristics of selected rice growers, Ascertain the knowledge level of selected rice growers regarding agrochemical use, Study the extent of agrochemical use across different rice varieties and farmers' varietal preferences, and Document best practices in agrochemical use and propose corrective measures for safe usage. The study was conducted in Bargarh district of Odisha, where 120 rice growers were randomly selected from six villages. The findings revealed that the majority of rice growers belonged to the middle-age category and had primary school-level education. More than half of the respondents lived in joint families with small family sizes. Approximately 65 percent of the farmers had a medium level of experience in agrochemical use in rice cultivation. Interestingly, 94.16 percent of the farmers practiced diversity by cultivating more than one rice variety, and 40 percent of the respondents owned medium-sized land holdings ranging from 5.01 to 10 acres. Moreover, 70.83 percent of rice growers had a medium level of exposure to mass media. The study highlighted a concerning knowledge gap, with 68.33 percent of the farmers having received no training related to agrochemical use. However, it was encouraging to find that 44.16 percent of the surveyed farmers possessed a high level of knowledge in this area. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between various factors, such as age, education, experience in agrochemical use, annual income, social participation, mass media exposure, and training, with the knowledge level of rice growers. The study also revealed that the majority of farmers were using fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides at high rates. Among the preferred rice varieties, Akash Ganga stood out as the highest consumer of agrochemicals, indicating its substantial input requirements for optimal growth and protection. While many farmers adopted good practices such as using neem-coated urea, recommended nozzles, and protective gear but only a small portion of farmers are disposing the containers in proper method. In conclusion, the study sheds light on the significant use of agrochemicals in rice cultivation in Bargarh district, Odisha, and highlights the need for improved knowledge dissemination and best practices adoption to ensure safe and sustainable agrochemical use.