ICAR-NOFRI Empowered Progressive Women Farmers of Ladakh on Organic Crop Production.
ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI), Tadong in collaboration with Sikkim Rural Livelihood Mission, Rural Management and Development Department, Govt. of Sikkim organized a ‘Training Program on Organic Crop Production’ on November 15, 2017 in order to strengthen the basics of organic crop production system to the 16 progressive women farmers of Leh-Ladakh.
Joint Director ICAR-NOFRI, Dr. R.K. Avasthe in his address emphasized the need of good soil health in organic production system. He said that soil is the most important factor for balanced nutrition of plants and there is need to conserve the soil for sustaining productivity. He stressed upon the need for maximizing land use efficiency to get maximum benefit per unit area. He detailed the ‘concept of physico-chemical and microbiological properties of soil in relation to soil health’ to the progressive farmers.
Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture), coordinated the program and detailed about the ‘organic management of fruits and vegetables’. He highlighted the importance of trench and double wall polyench for year round organic vegetable production especially at high altitudes. He also talked about the importance of seabuckthorn for sustaining livelihood at high altitudes.
Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) emphasized on the need for proper maintenance of all cropped area by keeping them weed-free and crop rotation with leguminous crops. He asked the farmers to grow vegetable pea/ rajmash after maize harvest and mulch with locally available biomass in between the rows of crops.
Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist (Animal Reproduction), ICAR-NOFRI discussed in detail about the backyard poultry and goat management techniques. He emphasized on the importance of Vanaraja birds which has gained popularity in Sikkim as backyard poultry. He also briefed about the disease management in backyard poultry.
Shri Shaon Kr. Das, Scientist (Soil Science) briefed about the integrated organic nutrient management in organic crop production system. He informed that soil pH plays significant role in proper uptake of nutrients. He also discussed about the different organic sources of nutrients.
Dr. Shweta Singh, Scientist (Plant Pathology), talked about the use of different organic based formulations for managing the pests and diseases in crops. She also stressed on the importance of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens for organic disease management in farmer’s field.
Mr. Ishfaq Ahmed Wani, Additional Mission Director, Rural Management and Development Department, J&K; Mr. Hari Krishna, National Mission Manager, Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi; Ms. Jigmat Angmo, Coordinator, Progressive Farmers, Leh-Ladakh; and Mr. Rinchen, Deputy Project Manager, Sikkim Rural Livelihood Mission, RMDD, Govt. of Sikkim also participated in the program and Mr. Tenzing Gelay, State Project Manager, SRLM-RMDD, Govt. of Sikkim coordinated the event. During the training program, all the members also visited the ICAR-NOFRI Research Farm and were briefed about the ongoing research and development activities. Mr Adarsh Kumar, Ms. Sujata Rai and Ms. Zangmit Lepcha assisted in organizing the program.
Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI and Scientists along with participants
Issued by – ICAR-NOFRI, Gangtok
