ICAR demonstrates Jalkund technology to tribal farmers in East Sikkim.
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim in a collaborative approach organized a ‘‘Jalkund Demonstration cum Training Programme on Climate Resilient Agriculture” under the aegis of National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) on August 13, 2015 at Pacheykhani GPU, East Sikkim. This program was organized with the aim to acquaint the farmers about climate change and their impact on farming which influences the livelihood of the resource poor farmers. Different adaptive mechanisms will be adopted in the near future to overcome the problems faced by the changing climate among which construction of Jalkund is an option. Silpaulin (250 GSM) was distributed to eight progressive tribal farmers to encourage storage of harvested rain water and water from other sources. A total 30 nos. of progressive tribal farmers attended the training programme.
Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR, Sikkim Centre emphasized upon the importance of conservation of soil and water under changing climes of mountainous ecosystems. He urged the farmers to undertake farming especially during winter season through Jalkund driven irrigation system to grow different vegetable crops. He highlighted the importance of the organic nutrition to the agricultural and horticultural crops and the gap in supply on nutrient demands in the state. He also emphasized that the farmers should utilize their fallow land with adopting proper cropping systems using the improved production technologies under NICRA programme. He also invited farmers to visit ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong for understanding the technologies and ongoing research activities. Later on, he visited the technology demonstration unit developed by Shri Gyalpo Tamang with the help of ICAR Sikkim and praised the work.
Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Sr. Scientist (Agronomy) and Programme Coordinator (I/C) KVK East Sikkim highlighted different activities under NICRA project and their importance and suggested the farmers to undertake at least one leguminous crop in their cropping system. He also made them aware of the effect of climate change on rainfall pattern in the state especially during winter season and encouraged the farmers to grow pahenlo dal immediately after maize harvest and mulch with locally available biomass in between the rows of crops to utilize the residual moisture as well as weed management.
Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture), discussed about the importance of low cost water harvesting structure like Jalkund for judicious use of water for winter crops. He also briefed about the vegetable nursery management techniques by using the water conserved in Jalkund.
Dr. Janak Kumar Singh, Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Breeding) discussed about improved package of practices of maize in the region. He also made the farmers aware about the development of seed by following time isolation in the growing season for two different maize composites. At the end of the program he demonstrated the complete process of structuring a Jalkund for the benefit of the progressive farmers of Pacheykhani GPU.
Dr. N. J. Singh, Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection) made them aware about different insects which largely affect the crops especially vegetables under changing climatic conditions. He urged the farmers to use organic inputs for managing the insects in vegetables and other crops for increasing productivity. He also stressed on the importance of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens for organic disease management in farmer’s field.
Shri Gyalpo Tamang, progressive farmer of Chalamthang village, appreciated the efforts of ICAR for conducting demonstration and training program on various technologies in Pakyong. Shri Manian Baraily, progressive farmer of Upper Dikling, assisted in arranging the program and proposed vote of thanks.
Input distributed by Dr. R.K. Avasthi, Joind Director, ICAR Sikkim to the progressive tribal farmers of Pacheykhani GPU.
Demonstration on Jalkund in Chalamthang village
