Training cum awareness programme on No-till organic pulse production in rice fallows for income and nutritional security.
One day training cum awareness programme on “No-till organic pulse production in rice fallows for income and nutritional security” was conducted at ICAR Agronomy lowland field on 17th March 2018 by the Division of Crop Production, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam under the Tribal Sub Plan. The objective of the programme aims to equip the farmers from villages adopted under the Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) with the skills and knowledge on efficient and effective utilization of rice/maize fallow for enhancing cropping intensity and income. A total of 90 farmers from ICAR-NPOF adopted villages viz., Mynsain, Pynthor and Umden Umbathiang attended the programme.
The program started with an introductory speech given by Dr. Jayanta Layek, Scientist (Agronomy) followed by detailed coverage on the household benefits of implementing an organic kitchen garden and integrated organic farming system (IOFS) model to meet the diverse requirement of the farm household while preserving the resource base. Dr. Layek and Miss Daphibanri Lyngdoh demonstrated the methods of crop rotation, biomass recycling etc., with the objective of effective and efficient utilization of farm land with minimum external inputs. Dr. Anup Das, Principle Scientist & Head, Division of Crop Production highlighted the need of conservation agriculture for growing leguminous crops in rice/maize fallow for enhancing soil health and increasing the productivity from the farmer’s field. He also elucidated about the importance of cultivating legumes for fixing atmospheric nitrogen in soil and in creating a thriving habitat for soil microorganisms. Without ignoring the importance of crop protection from pest and diseases, Dr. Sandeep Patra, Scientist (Entomology) and Dr. Utpal Dey discussed about the issues of pest and disease managemt on important crops with a strong emphasis on organic methods to manage them. They also promulgated the usage of some of organic pest controlling inputs like Nembecidine, Bacillus thuringiensis and Beauveria bassiana for controlling the common pest prevalent in the region.
Dr. M. Thoithoi Devi, Scientist (Agronomy) gave a demonstration on the methods involved in compost preparation including vermicomposting and elaborated the role of manure for promoting healthy agro-soil conditions, generating extra income and in reducing environmental pollution. In each and every component /farming practices demonstrated in the training, a feedback received from the farmers revealed that they were enthusiastic and are looking forward in employing the methods learnt by them in their field. In this occasion, various agricultural inputs like seeds of improved varieties of maize, tomato, chilly, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, pumpkin, okra, coriander etc. and organic insecticides like neembicidine were distributed among the farmers. The training ended with a motivational message and words of encouragement from Dr. Anup Das, Head to the farmers of the villages to carry out scientific organic farming in the villages and to inspire others do the same as well.
