• In a landmark step toward agricultural innovation and biodiversity conservation, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, inaugurated a Seed Museum and a Sprinkler Irrigation System under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Seed (Crops), Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics.
• The Seed Museum preserves 386 seed samples collected from diverse agro-climatic regions across Assam. 
• It aims to serve as a repository of indigenous genetic diversity, highlighting the state’s traditional crop heritage. 
• The museum will also function as an educational and research hub for students, scientists, and farmers to understand seed conservation, genetic variability, and sustainable agriculture.
• In parallel, the newly installed Sprinkler Irrigation System, with a coverage capacity of 0.5 hectares, will enhance water-use efficiency and seed production quality in the university’s Quality Seed Production Plot. 
• It will serve as a demonstration unit for promoting modern irrigation techniques among farmers and agricultural trainees.
• The inauguration marks a milestone in AAU’s mission to integrate conservation with innovation, reaffirming its role as a regional leader in agricultural research and technology dissemination. 
• The initiative supports the state’s broader goals of achieving climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and sustainable agriculture in Assam and the Northeast.
•  Significance: The AAU initiative aligns with India’s commitments to sustainable agriculture under SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG-15 (Life on Land) while promoting scientific seed conservation and efficient water management.
  

MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements about the Seed Museum and Sprinkler Irrigation System inaugurated at Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat:

1. The Seed Museum has been established under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Seed (Crops).
2. The museum currently preserves over 1,000 seed samples collected from across India.
3. The sprinkler irrigation system inaugurated at AAU has a coverage capacity of 0.5 hectares and aims to enhance water-use efficiency in seed production.
4. Both initiatives are designed to integrate innovation with conservation in Assam’s agricultural sector.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 3, and 4 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

 Answer: (a)

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