By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Bajra, a highly nutritious and profitable crop, can be sown before Bengal gram in the rabi season, enabling farmers to utilise idle land and earn substantial income, said P.V. Satyanarayana, Director of Research at ANGRAU.

Speaking at a field day organised by the District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Palnadu, on Tuesday, Dr. Satyanarayana highlighted the nutritional value and high-yield potential of fortified bajra varieties. “Farmers can expect yields of 15–20 quintals per acre, translating to a net income of around ₹25,000 per acre,” he said, commending progressive farmers who have already adopted the crop.

He specifically lauded Manukonda Sreenivasa Rao, a farmer who cultivated the ABV 04 bajra variety over 23 acres and expressed satisfaction with its profitability and suitability for the Palnadu district’s cropping pattern.

G. Saravanan, Director of Extension at ANGRAU, encouraged farmers to adopt innovations such as farm mechanisation, improved varieties, and integrated management practices to boost productivity per unit area.

N.V.S.S. Durga Prasad, Principal Scientist at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) Lam, emphasised the advantages of the ABV 04 bajra variety, noting its suitability for year-round cultivation and significant yield benefits.

The field day effectively showcased bajra’s potential as a valuable rabi crop, reinforcing its role in supporting both farm incomes and national nutritional security.