Visit of trainee Group-I officers of Telangana to RARS, Palem on 05.01.2026

As part of the training programme, an exposure visit was undertaken by the trainee Group-I officers, viz., Sri T. Ashok and Sri P. Harsha, under the chairmanship of Sri Yashwanth Rao, District Agricultural Officer (DAO), Nagarkurnool, to the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Palem on 05.01.2025. Dr. L. Krishna, Associate Director of Research (ADR), RARS, Palem, welcomed the trainee officers and briefed them on the organizational structure of Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU) in the state. He further explained the pivotal role of the university in transforming farmers’ livelihoods in Telangana. Initially, a documentary on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the university was screened, highlighting the significant transformations achieved by PJTAU over the past 60 years. Subsequently, a video on PJTAU Vision 2047 was played, wherein the Hon’ble Vice- Chancellor, PJTAU, Prof. Aldas Janaiah, outlined the objectives and goals to be achieved by 2047 in service of the farming community. Later, Dr. K. Sadaiah, Scientist (Plant Breeding), explained the seed production activities being carried out at the research station in accordance with the requirements of the Southern Telangana Zone. Thereafter, the trainee officers, along with the DAO, visited the experimental fields at RARS, Palem. During the field visit, Dr. G. Eswara Reddy, Scientist (Plant Breeding), briefed them on the ongoing research activities in pulses, particularly redgram and horsegram. He emphasized the collaborative research efforts with ICRISAT aimed at developing and disseminating advanced pulse production technologies. He also explained the redgram crossing programme and showcased various redgram varieties currently being cultivated by farmers. Later, Dr. D. Shashibhushan, Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding), explained the importance of millets to the trainee officers, with emphasis on the ongoing research activities on millets at RARS, Palem. He further elaborated on the cultivars released under the programme, highlighting the nutritionally rich (iron- and zinc-enriched) bio-fortified pearl millet variety PBH-1625, developed in collaboration with ICRISAT, Patancheru. Subsequently, Dr. K. Sadaiah, Scientist (Plant Breeding), briefed the trainees on the research activities being carried out on the castor crop at RARS, Palem. He emphasized that RARS, Palem is the only research station where exclusive research on castor is being undertaken. He further explained the ongoing research on castor plant types aimed at developing ideotypes suitable for the cropping systems of Telangana. Thereafter, the trainees visited the castor agronomy experimental plots, where Dr. Kadasiddappa M.M., Scientist (Agronomy), explained the research activities related to the use of nano- fertilizers and herbicides in castor. He emphasized that application of nano-DAP along with optimum fertilizer dosages has shown promising results in achieving yields comparable to conventional fertilization in castor. Subsequently, the team visited the groundnut experimental plots, where Dr. M. Sreedhar, Principal Scientist (Oilseeds), briefed the trainees on the research activities of the groundnut programme at RARS, Palem. He informed that adaptive trials of the variety ‘Vishishta’ (TCGS-1694) are being conducted across the state. He further explained the seed production and productivity enhancement activities in groundnut. Ms. B. G. Shobha Rathod, Scientist (Agronomy), accompanied the team during the visit to the groundnut plots. Later, the team visited the seed godown and seed processing unit at RARS, Palem. Dr. K. Sadaiah, Scientist (Plant Breeding), explained the seed production activities being carried out at the research station, including the seed procurement and sales procedures followed by PJTAU in general and RARS, Palem in particular. Finally, the exposure visit of trainee group-I officers to RARS, Palem concluded with a formal visit to the office of the Associate Director of Research (ADR), RARS, Palem.