The Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur organized eight-day Model Training Course (MTC) on `Weed management for sustainable oilseed and pulse production’ during 16th–23rd December 2014. Thirty senior agriculture officers from ten states participated in the training course. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. V.S. Tomar, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. He highlighted the importance of the training course in the current scenario of oilseeds and pulse production in the country, and emphasized the need of advanced knowledge on weed management for making agriculture a profitable venture. He urged the participants to gather as much technical know-how as possible during the training period and disseminate the same in their respective localities so that farmers’ are benefited.

Welcoming the participants and guests, Dr. P.K. Singh, Principal Scientist and Course Director briefed about the content of the programme. While addressing the gathering, Dr. A.R. Sharma, Director, DWR, focused on the purpose of the training programme. He informed the participants that improved weed management technologies for all the field crops including oilseeds and pulses are available with the Directorate, and this kind of training programmes are very useful means for their transmission from research field to farmers’ field. He said that the training will help the agriculture officers to improve their knowledge level and extension activities relating to weed management for enhancing the production of oilseeds and pulses.

In technical sessions, 35 lectures covering cultural, mechanical, biological, chemical and integrated weed management were delivered by the scientists/experts from the DWR and other institutions. Total seven practical sessions were conducted covering important aspects of weed management techniques, viz., weed identification, herbicide spraying techniques, mechanical weeding tools, weed utilization, bio-control agents, herbicide residue analysis, and conservation agriculture. Participants also visited OFR trials being conducted by DWR at different villages, and interacted with the farmers of those localities. Dr. P.K Mishra, Director Extension services, JNKVV chaired the closing ceremony on January 23, 2014 and distributed the certificate to trainees. The training programme was coordinated by Dr. K.K. Barman, Principal Scientist, and Dr. Raghwendra Singh, Senior Scientist.