Summary:
BENGALURU, India, Aug.
17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing with its vision to double farmers" income and improve productivity of Red Gram farming, Godrej Agrovet, India"s largest diversified agri-business company, today announced a unique initiative called Mission Red Gram.
India is a major consumer and producer of Red Gram but low productivity has been a major concern for the farmers.
One of the reasons for low productivity in Red Gram is attributed to the declining population of the solitary bee due to indiscriminate use of toxic pesticides.
Solitary or leaf cutter bee species such as Megachile bee are one of the most efficient natural cross-pollinators of red gram.
Scientific studies show a decline in the population of solitary bees directly impacts the yield of red gram.
With Mission Red Gram, Godrej Agrovet is creating awareness among the cultivators of Red Gram about the importance of pollinators in improving the quantity and the quality of produce.
The farmers are encouraged to plant sun hemp on peripheries to provide foraging sites for solitary bees and install "Bee Hotels" -- a bee nesting site.
As part of Mission Red Gram, Godrej Agrovet will also provide counselling to farmers to adopt best agriculture practices that can improve the productivity of Red Gram (Tur dal) as it is one of the primary sources of protein in the Indian diet (22% protein).