ICAR-KVK, East Sikkim organized Pre-Kharif Kisan Sammelan

Raising awareness amongst the farmers on latest technologies developed from ICAR-NOFRI and acquainting about the effect of climate change on the various crops was the main objective of this Pre-Kharif Kisan Sammelan which was organized by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim on March 29-30, 2017 at ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong, Gangtok. 138 nos. of active farmers of 12 SHGs from Thanka, Losing, Pacheykhani, Chalamthang and Bengthang attended the program. In this programme, main focus was technology showcasing, technical sessions, research and demonstration farm visit, farmers-scientist interaction, and farmers’ feedback. Programme was chaired by Chief Guest, Dr. Ravikant Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong, Gangtok and presided over by Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Sr. Scientist & Head (I/c), KVK-ICAR, East Sikkim, Ranipool, Dr. Ashish Yadav, Sr. Scientist (Horticulture), ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong, Gangtok, Dr. P. K. Pathak, SMS-Animal Sc., Dr. J. K. Singh, SMS-Plant Breeding, Dr. N. J. Singh, SMS-Plant Protection, Sh. Boniface Lepcha, SMS-Horticulture, Ms. Pallabi Phukan, SMS-Agril Extension and Mrs. Anushri Gogoi, Programme Assistant.  Smt. Sushma Pradhan, Dy. Director (Agril.), FS&ADD, Govt. of Sikkim was also attended the program.  Initially, Dr. Raghavendra Singh welcomed the dignitaries and farmers and gave introductory remarks; emphasizing upon the importance of the event being celebrated, role of KVK-East Sikkim, significant achievements and its expansion and benefit to the farmers. He also emphasized on different agricultural schemes of central government for the welfare of the farming community and linked farmers for its dissemination at farmers’ field. Smt. Sushma Pradhan highlighted some of the important kharif-season schemes of FS&ADD, Govt. of Sikkim. She informed the gathering that the State Agriculture Department is implementing the different demonstration programmes in collaboration with ICAR-NOFRI and KVK-East Sikkim, Ranipool. Further, she assured that more collaborative works will be implimented in the villages of district for the welfare of the farming community.  
Chief Guest gave valuable remarks on organic farming, emphasized more about awareness among the farmers pertaining to innovative technologies, focussed on extension tools for transfer of technology at the grassroot level. For improving the livelihood of farming community, he mentioned secondary agriculture, value addition in horticultural produce, empowering the farm women in agriculture, formation of Self Help Groups and links with banking institutions for providing financial support, capacity building of rural youth for skill development in various enterprises, and by developing market linkages for getting good price of agricultural produce farmers could obtain benefit.

Farmers were made aware of the different agricultural technologies of ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong through power-point presentation by Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Dr. Ashish Yadav, Dr. P. K. Pathak and Dr. N. J. Singh.

Shri D. K. Dhakal, Farmers’ representative, expressed his gratefulness towards ICAR-NOFRI and KVK-East Sikkim for continuous agricultural technological back-up and input support to improve the production and productivity of agricultural and allied sectors. All the KVK-East Sikkim staff coordinated for smooth conduct of the programme.

Issued by: KVK-East Sikkim