A five-day training session is being held at Central Farm on the use of Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques for Optimizing Fertilizer and Use Efficiency in Rainfed Agriculture Systems.

The primary goal of this training is to educate participants on the application of Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques (NIT) in agricultural practices. These techniques will help in optimizing fertilizer use and improving crop water use efficiency in rainfed agriculture systems.

One of the central objectives is to reduce the use of pesticides.

This reduction in pesticide use will contribute to minimizing water contamination and reducing crop losses caused by pests and diseases. This has important implications for environmental sustainability and the protection of water resources.

The training is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Ministry of Agriculture, CARDI, UB, BAHA and SIRDI. The IAEA is involved in introducing NIT to enhance soil fertility and water management in rain-fed sugarcane and corn production systems.

The project emphasizes the importance of tracing agro-contaminants. This involves monitoring and assessing whether the application of chemicals in the fields leads to surface and groundwater contamination. This is crucial for identifying potential environmental risks and mitigating them.

The project will focus on assisting small-scale farmers, by improving productivity at the field level, and enhanced the socioeconomic standards of farmers.