The Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Indian Institute of Millets Research (ICAR-IIMR) has opened a new administrative and laboratory building and a Pearl Millet Technology Park at its Regional Research Station on pearl millet at Gudamalani, Balotra, in Rajasthan, on 27 September. The station also houses the coordinating unit of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet.

The infrastructure involves a total investment of Rs 1,716 lakh and is meant to strengthen pearl millet research, coordination of the national project and farmer training in the arid region of western Rajasthan. A foundation stone was laid for a residential campus and guest house for staff and visiting scientists.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary was chief guest and ICAR Director General M. L. Jat presided; a farmers' meet was held, institute publications and a new AICRP website were released, and progressive farmers were honoured. Visitors toured the station's experimental blocks and an exhibition of pearl millet technologies and products.

Photo: Herovaclicks / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Source: ICAR