Farmer Field Day for Enhanced Pulse and Oilseed production with Conservation Agriculture practices in underutilized Rice/Maize fallows under Tribal Sub Plan.
In the backdrop of increasing impact of changing climate and vulnerabilities on hill agriculture, one farmer field day cum awareness program was organized by the Division of Crop Production, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hills Region, Umiam on 14th March 2018 to sensitize the resource hill farmers about the mechanisms of enhancing pulse and oilseed production with adoption of promising eco-friendly conservation agriculture practices with hassle free funding of national flagship program of Tribal Sub Plan. Major objective of this field day was to brainstorm and equip the farm women and young farmers with the skills and technical know-how of efficient and effective utilization of rice and maize fallows for augmenting farm income, nutritional security and to achieve environmental sustainability.
The program started with brief welcoming introduction by Dr. M. Thoithoi Devi, Scientist (Agronomy), which was later taken over by Dr. Krishnappa, Scientist (Crop Physiology) and Dr. Jayanta Layek, Scientist (Agronomy) to elucidate the importance, need and thrive of cultivating various leguminous and oilseed crops in rice/maize fallow for enhancing soil health of degraded lands of north east and to abate nutritional insecurity of tribal livelihood. Moreover, Dr. Jayanta Layek highlighted the various aspects of integrated organic farming system along with illustrating the role and methods of crop rotation, biomass recycling, quality seed production, etc. Dr. Pankaj, Scientist (Agricultural Extension) elaborated on the successful methods of generating optimum farm income from the unit area of farmers’ field with available resources by taking interest in adoption of various allied agricultural activities such as poultry raising and mushroom cultivation. Dr. M. Thoithoi Devi gave a demonstration on the methods involved in vermicomposting and also elaborated on the role of vermin-composting in maintaining and promoting healthy agro-soil conditions and also reducing the environmental pollution. Dr. Krishnappa vividly explained the need of cultivation of pulses with conservation agriculture such as minimum till or no-till and recycling of available bio-resources under changing climate. Cultivation of pulses or oilseeds, he said will increase the farm income, enhance employment and nutritional security with low investment from the farmers. He gave a lucid exposure on urgent need of cultivation of nutritious pulses like pea, lentil and chickpea, over which the farmers took great interest to know the nature of plant type, availability of cultivars and follow up of management practices. Dr. Krishnappa also stressed on the positive impacts of pulse cultivation in rice and maize fallows for enhancing the farmers’ income, regulation of soil nutrients and soil biota and also to secure the nutritional needs. Besides this, the farmers were also introduced to the cultivation of various horticultural crops by Dr. M. Bilashini Devi, Scientist (Vegetable Science) with clear demonstration of effectiveness of advanced germination technology for raising seedlings in soil-less media. She also exposed farmers to various methods of cultivating horticultural crops such as leafy vegetable crops, flowers, fruits, etc for increasing coherent agri-horti entrepreneurship for better livelihood security of hill farmers.
