Exposure visit of B.Sc. Ag. Students from Shri. Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture, Indore

As part of a study tour, 36 students of B.Sc. (Agriculture) III year from Shri Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture, Indore visited the ICAR–Directorate of Weed Research (DWR), Jabalpur on 8 April 2026. The students, accompanied by faculty members including Dr. Rajani Solanki and Dr. B. Valunjkar, arrived at the Directorate at 10:30 AM. The group was received and guided by Dr. Deepak Pawar, Scientist; Dr. Dasari Sreekanth, Scientist; Dr. Sahadev Kuwardadra, Scientist; and Shri G. Vishwakarma, Technical Officer. The visit commenced with demonstrations of conservation agriculture fields, where students were introduced to sustainable crop management practices aimed at improving soil health and reducing environmental impacts.

Subsequently, the students were taken to various research and experimental facilities, including the engineering workshop, Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) facility, Open Top Chambers (OTCs), containment facility, lysimeter unit, and biological control units for aquatic weeds. These visits provided practical exposure to advanced research infrastructure and methodologies used in weed science and climate-resilient agriculture. An interactive session was organized with Dr. P. K. Singh, Principal Scientist and In-charge, PME & ITMU, who engaged with the students on diverse aspects of weed management, emerging challenges, and sustainable control strategies. The students were also introduced to the phytoremediation unit, where they learned about the principles and applications of using aquatic and terrestrial weeds for the treatment of polluted water.

In addition, the students were exposed to important weed species of field crops, enhancing their ability to identify and understand weed ecology. They were briefed on the significance of conservation agriculture in mitigating residue burning and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), thereby contributing to climate-resilient agricultural systems. Overall, the study tour was highly interactive and informative. Students actively participated, raised insightful queries, and gained valuable practical knowledge on weed management practices, conservation agriculture, climate-resilient technologies, and modern research instrumentation. The visit proved to be an enriching experience, significantly enhancing their understanding and technical competence in the field of weed science.