Panel Discussion
Solutions to increase Water efficiency in paddy fields
The first National Congress in Agricultural Engineering
The first National Congress in Agricultural Engineering was held on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in the main hall of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) in Karaj, focusing on “Dimensions of Water Efficiency in Different Agricultural Sectors”. Dr. Mojtaba Khayamnekoui, Director General of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) and Deputy Minister of Agricultural Jahad, Dr. Niazi, deputy minister of water and soil, some of the director general of the agricultural research institutes, academic members of related agricultural research institutes and centers, and universities have participated. On the first day of this scientific congress a discussion panel on available solutions to increase Water efficiency in paddy fields (with an emphasis on direct seeding on dry beds) chaired by Dr. Maryam Hosseini Chaleshtori, the director general of the Rice Research Institute of Iran(RRII). This panel was well received by the participants (papers presentation and discussion). Dr. Niazi, deputy minister of water and soil, Dr. Dehghani Sanij, director general of the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, a group of academic members of the Rice Research Institute of Iran, the national research centers, the Soil and Water Research Institute, and national universities.
Numerous lectures on panel topics were presented, a lot of solutions on water efficiency in different rice cultivation systems were discussed and finally, questions were answered by panel members. Finally, Dr. Hosseini, the chairperson of the panel summarized the main points of the presentation and discussion as follows:
To increase water efficiency in direct seeding through dry beds’ rice cultivation, it is necessary to follow the special instructions for each climate condition across the country. These instructions include cultivation systems, use of new irrigation systems, varieties, management of pests, and diseases, weed control, and plant nutrition. Also, drought-tolerant aerobic rice cultivars with high yield potential to improve water productivity in suitable areas for direct seeding were emphasized. The development of new irrigation systems and financial support for water efficiency was also recommended by this panel.