| Abstract |
A basic requirement of any agricultural research station is a well organized and managed experimental farm. In the past, agricultural research in India had suffered badly due to inadequate attention to this vital need. Following the initation of the All-India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project in 1958 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation, serious attention began to be paid to improving facilities for conducting practical field experiments. Until a few years ago, the yields obtained even in experiment stations were so poor and the coefficient of variability in field experiments so high that it became very difficult to assess the value of new genotypes and agronomic practices with confidence. Many variables such as considerable heterogeneity in soil fertility, poor leveling, inappropriate tillage, uncertain and improper irrigation and heavy weed eompetition all made it difficult to get consistent and reliable data from field experiments. Farm managem nt is a specialized skill. Those involved in it perform a service function. Unless such staff are properly trained, organized and supported it would no be possible to get the best from them . During the last five years a·n attempt has been made at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute to develop an integrated and efficient farm operations and management system. Mr. C. R. Pomeroy of the Rockefeller Foundation has been closely working with the staff of the IARI in this program and has been instrumental for much of the planning of the farm development and irrigation system. Therefore, this article of Mr. - Pomeroy is based upon considerable operational experience. The IARI proposes to start training courses in experiment station management soon and this article would be found to be of very great value by the trainees who will be participating in this course. It will also be of much value to all agricultural research workers, administrators and others connectedwith the establishment of a research farm and th laying out of field experiments. |
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