Diagnostic Visit to Farmers’ Field by KVK Longding

Kanubari, 24th June,2019 :
            Dr A. Kirankumar Singh, i/c Senior Scientist & Head, KVK Longding paid a diagnostic visit to the farmers’ field of the villages of Kamkah, Mopakhat and Hasse Russa under Kanubari circle of Longding District. Firstly Dr Singh monitored Shri Nokjam Wangjen’s Black rice field at Kamkah village. He found that the crop was growing luxuriantly but he observed the use of glyphosate in the bunds of the rice field due to which the rice plants nearby the border even in the middle of the field were affected and irrigation was required. He suggested to stop the use of glyphosate nearby the field. He proceeded to Mopakhat village and monitored Shri Tingjen Tingkhatra’s black rice field where he observed the good growth of the crop with adequate water level but infested heavily by weeds for which he advised for immediate weeding. And he witnessed the effect of glyphosate spaying in the bunds of rice field which is also seen in the border rows of the rice field. In this regard, he suggested not to use glyphosate in future in the rice field bunds. In the next field of Shri Topha Atraham’s black rice, the heavy infestation of weed and need for irrigation were observed with poor growth of the plants. He also observed the sign of the removal of top soil from his field which was confirmed from the concerned farmer due to which the crop growth was not satisfactory as compared to the former farmer’s field. The farmer was advised to give irrigation immediately followed by weeding and fertiliser application. Lastly, Dr Kirankumar Singh proceeded to Hasse Russa village where he monitored Shri Ankham Ponglaham’s rice field growing Ranjit variety where he observed the over removal of the top soil from the field due to which the growth of the crop is poor. He also witnessed the transplanting of overaged seedlings in the field resulting less tillering and the yield. In this regard, he advised the farmer to use 20-25 days old seedlings and put FYM/compost in the field after the harvest of rice and crop rotation with leguminous crops should be followed and green manuring can also be adopted. By observing all the fields, Dr Singh is convinced that soil fertility management practices should be properly followed to regain the soil fertility status and good health for getting proper yield in these villages and the use of glyphosate should be restricted in these villages through the village authorities keeping in view the after effects on foodgrain production in these areas. Otherwise, the soil in these areas will be of less importance for growing crops. Further, Dr Singh observed that the common situation in these villages is that the rice fields are surrounded by the tea gardens where heavy doses of glyphosate and fertilisers are used due to whose washed out by rainfall might be one of the reason for poor growth and yield of rice.

Glimpses of the field visit