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Indian scientists visit BCG
Two Indian research scientists, Dr Raji Reddy and Dr Sreenivas, and CSIRO’s Zvi Hochman visited BCG on Friday 12 February. The group were particularly interested in crop management options in response to seasonal climatic variability, and developing and evaluating options for effective communication and adoption of climate forecasts and agricultural advisory systems.
During their 10 day visit to Australia Raji, Sreenivas and Zvi (who facilitated the tour) also toured the Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit (APSRU) in Toowoomba where Raji presented a seminar on climate variability and climate change in India. They met with several scientists and visited field research investigations into soil evaporation losses. They also visited an irrigated Darling Downs farm growing cotton, maize and wheat and inspected farm machinery used for large scale cotton production. After a weekend in Toowoomba, Raji and Screenivas experienced some Australian hospitality (complete with a BBQ on the veranda) in Brisbane where they also learnt about the cropping systems simulator APSIM (the computer simulation program that drives Yield Prophet). The group visited the Yanco Research Institute, located in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, where they learnt about Australia’s rice industry, visited a field experiment investigating delayed application of permanent water to rice fields, and visited a rice farm.
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Zvi Hochman commented on the impact the tour had on the visitors: “They were particularly struck with the fact that despite the many contrasts between Australian and Indian agriculture such as farm size and low levels of mechanisation, we share many issues such as climate variability and efficient use of scarce water resources. They were also interested in how farmers have managed to survive the prolonged drought conditions and the visible shift to no-till and stubble retention in the Mallee.” Raji and Screenivas pictured with Zvi Hochman, BCG's Alexandra Gartmann, local farmer Chris Lee and BCG's Simon Craig and Janine McIntyre. |
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In 2009 BCG hosted over 2600 people. BCG values these opportunities to share experiences and develop relationships. BCG sees this role as a key in achieving its mission of improving the prosperity of farmers and rural communities. For more information contact Janine McIntyre on (03) 5492 2787.