Seminar on “PLASTICS IN AGRICULTURE” by AIPMA

AIPMA hosted a full day seminar on “Plastics in Agriculture” with Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association and Association for the Promotion of Plastics on Friday Aug 9, 2002 at MCCIA, Tilak Road, Pune 411 002. The meeting was unique with the audience comprising of bureaucrats, farmers and association members representing the processors. The presentation by the speakers was compulsorily in Marathi language with the option to use Hindi when desired. This was for the first time that information of such kind was disseminated to the grass root level. What was remarkable was the large attendance by the farmers (about 40% of the 150 present in the audience) who took down notes on their writing pads, participated vigorously in the Q & A session particularly in the Panel Discussion.

Mr.Rajiv B.Tolat, Chairman, Seminar Committee, AIPMA announced the inaugural of the Seminar and requested Mr.D.K.Abhyankar, Director General, MCCIA to present his welcome address.

Mr.Mohan K.Jain, President of AIPMA welcomed all speakers, participants, audience and emphasized that plastics play a major role in the development of agriculture.

The traditional lamp was lighted by Dr.S.K.Goyal and the other dignitaries. All the eminent speakers were felicitated.

Mr.Ajay U. Desai, Hon.Secretary, AIPMA proposed vote of thanks.

The First Technical Session commenced under the Chairmanship of Mr.Suresh J.Atre, Managing Committee Member, AIPMA. Mr.Satyajeet Bhonsle, Deputy Manager, Polymer Business and Mr.Satish Awate, Manager (Extrusion Group) Reliance Industries Ltd. spoke on “Introduction of Plastics in the field of Agriculture and other fields”. This was followed by a lecture on “Drip Irrigation and Sprinkers” by Mr.Prakash Chaugle, Dy. Manager (Applications & Engg.) Finolex Plastro Plasson Ltd.

The Second Technical Session commenced under the Chairmanship of Mr.Bansilal Lunkad, Managing Committee Member, AIPMA. In this Session Mr.D.K.Katmale, officer-incharge, Agriculture Research Station, Sangli spoke on “Polythene mulch film for groundnuts”. Mr.Gopal Rathi, President, Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association, Pune and Managing Committee Member, AIPMA presented his paper on “advantages of two colour mulch film”. Dr.M.S.Basu, Director, National Research Centre for Groundnut, Junagadh delivered a lecture on “use of mulch film in agriculture and latest techniques being adopted in China”.

The Third Technical Session was chaired by Mr.N.N.Veer, Dy. General Manger, Marketing Operations & Planning, IPCL, Vadodara. Mr.Girish Desai, Chief Executive, Rishi Packers Ltd., Daman, presented paper on “Shade nets for Agriculture”. Mr.Shambhubhai Patel, Plasticulture Expert, IPCL, Vadodara gave a brief of his practical experience of mulching and its impact on the profit margin and also by Mr.Rajeeb Roy, Director Marketing, M/s.Ginegar Plastic Products Ltd. who showed a video film.

This was followed by a panel discussion in which Dr.M.S.Basu, Mr.Satish Awate, Manager, (Extrusion Group), Reliance Industries Ltd., Mr.Shambhubhai Patel, Mr.Rajeeb Roy, Director Marketing, M/s.Ginegar Plastic Products Ltd. and Mr.Grish Desai. Mr.Kathmale participated and answered the queries of the farmers.

The seminar was a great success and there was excellent interaction among the speakers and farmers.

If you would like to organise similar seminars on topics such as conservation of water, packaging, agriculture or similar topics, please feel free to contact us. Plastemart.com, along with AIPMA, is keen to promote such educational programmes, so that valuable information can be disseminated to grass root level.

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