Exposure visit of B.Sc. Ag. Students from Sau. Vasudhatai Deshmukh College of Agriculture, Bodna, Amravati

As part of an educational study tour, a group of 17 students from B.Sc. (Agriculture) III year of Sau. Vasudhatai Deshmukh College of Agriculture, Bodna, Amravati visited the ICAR–Directorate of Weed Research (DWR), Jabalpur on 24 April 2026. The students, accompanied by faculty members including the Director of the college and Dr. V.A. Nagare, arrived at the Directorate at 09:15 AM. The visit was organized with the objective of providing practical exposure to advanced research activities and technologies in the field of weed science and sustainable agriculture. The group was formally welcomed and guided by Dr. Deepak Pawar, Scientist, who provided an overview of the Directorate’s mandate, ongoing research programs, and its role in addressing emerging challenges in weed management under changing climatic conditions. The visit commenced with demonstrations at conservation agriculture fields, where students were introduced to resource-conserving technologies such as minimum tillage, crop residue management, and crop diversification. These demonstrations highlighted the importance of sustainable crop management practices in improving soil health, enhancing input-use efficiency, and reducing environmental footprints.

Subsequently, the students were taken on a comprehensive tour of various state-of-the-art research and experimental facilities. These included the engineering workshop for the development and testing of weed management implements; the Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) facility and Open Top Chambers (OTCs), which simulate future climate scenarios to study crop–weed interactions; the containment facility for controlled experimentation; the lysimeter unit for precise water and nutrient dynamics studies; and biological control units focusing on eco-friendly management of aquatic weeds. Each facility visit was supplemented with detailed explanations, enabling students to understand the methodologies, experimental setups, and practical applications of the research being conducted.

Throughout the visit, emphasis was placed on integrated and sustainable weed management approaches, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and the role of modern research tools in enhancing productivity and environmental sustainability. The students showed keen interest, actively engaged in discussions, and sought clarifications on various scientific and practical aspects. Overall, the study tour proved to be highly interactive, informative, and academically enriching. It provided the students with valuable hands-on exposure and real-world insights into weed science, conservation agriculture, and advanced research infrastructure, thereby significantly strengthening their conceptual understanding and technical competence in the discipline.