The total area of Hardoi district is 5,986 km2 and >30% population belongs to Scheduled caste, which mainly involved in agriculture and non-agricultural labour work. Due to limited knowledge of farmers about the plant genetic resources, one-day workshop on PGR awareness was conducted at Village Kamolia, Karimnagar-Saidapur, Ahirori, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh on 30 January, 2025 for SC beneficiaries for improving their livelihood. 250 farmers (men/women) from Gadanpur, Purbi Katela, Paschimi Katela, Santari, Khurd Santari, Chota Saiyadapur, Bada Saidapur, Kamolia, Gadosar, Kuinya, Churaipurwa, Ranikhera etc. villages of Ahirori block were participated and benefited from the SCSP programme. Dr. Pankaj Nautiyal, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) was Chief Guest and Sh. Ahibaran Lal, Managing Director, Rishi Ketan Shikshan Sansthan, Kamolia, Hardoi was the special guest. Dr. Subhash Chander, Senior Scientist welcomed the chief guest, special guest, officials from KVK Hardoi-II and participating farmers and women’s. Dr. Pankaj Kannaujia briefed about the SCSP scheme and its relevance for SC farmers. He also briefly discussed about the role and importance of ICAR-NBPGR for conservation of traditional landraces and farmers varieties to the farmers. Dr Subhash Chander, Senior Scientist, talked about the conservation of plant genetic resources through cryopreservation and tissue culture techniques. Dr. Traloki Singh, SMS (Agronomy) briefly discussed about the various recommended varieties of wheat and rice of salt affected area and also discussed about the management of irrigation in rabi season crops. Dr. T.N. Rai, SMS (Soil Science) talked about the management and reclamation of the salt affected soil. Dr Mohit Singh make aware the farmers about different government schemes and benefits of creating self-help groups. Dr. Pankaj Nautiyal, Chief Guest Head, KVK and of the programme urged the farmers to take advantage of KVK to learn good agri-horticultural practices through different training programmes. At the end of the programme, agricultural tools/inputs like manually operated knapsack sprayers, secateurs, spade, foldable plastic crates, 10 kg rice seed, plastic irrigation pipe and chargeable torch were distributed to SC beneficiaries. The programme ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Subhash Chander.
