FIELD DAY on “Improved Maize Production Technology” Jointly organized by ICAR, Lembucherra and KVK Khowai
“A field day on Improved Maize Production Technology” was organised on 4th May, 2019 at North Pulinpur ADC Village by ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Tripura Centre in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Khowai. The programme was conducted as a part of the project on ‘Popularising improved maize production technology in north eat India’ funded by Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhuana. A total of 91 farmers and farm women of North Pulinpur ADC Village as well as Duski Village of Teliamura Agri-Subdivision of Khowai district, Tripura actively participated during the Field Day Programme. Dr. Anup Das, Principal Scientist (Agronomy), ICAR Tripura Centre, Dr. Dipak Nath, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Khowai, Dr Gulab Sing Yadav, Scientist (Agronomy), Dr. Satya Priya Singh, Scientist, Entomology, ICAR Research Complex, Tripura Centre along with other experts from KVK, Khowai and Dr. Amaresh Sarkar, Assistant Prof (Agril Engineering) of College of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura attended the programme as resource persons. Dr. Sentu Acharjee, Superintendent of Agriculture, Teliamura Agri-Sub Division was present as Special Guest during the programme.
The Inaugural session was started with the reception and welcoming of the dignitaries and participating farmers along with lightening of lamp by the experts. Dr. Dipak Nath, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK, Khowai in his welcome address explained the objectives of the programme along with performance and overall achievement of the KVK in collaboration with ICAR Tripura Centre to promote Maize in Khowai District of Tripura. He requested all sections of the society to join hand to tackle the adverse effect of climate change in their life in general and in agricultural activities in particular. In his speech he appreciated the efforts of the farmers for conducting the demonstration in a cluster mode for wider visibility of the technology.
Dr. Anup Das, Principal Scientist (Agronomy) interacted with the farmers and provided them hand hold training on Scientific Cultivation of Maize. He has emphasised on maintenance of proper plant population in the field which will result a better income for the farmers. Dr. Anup Das also emphasised on role of integrated nutrient management, liming and organic manure in sustainable maize production. He has suggested the KVK scientists to move in collaborative and convergence mode to make the farmers self-sufficient and enhance their income.
Dr. Gulab Sing in his lecture on scientific rabi Maize cultivation elaborated the multiple role of maize as food, feed, fodder and the importance of seed production and maintenance. He also emphasised on importance of intercropping of maize with other crops like Cowpea, okra, vegetable pea, bitter gourd to enhance farmers’ income.
Dr. Satyapriya Sing (Scientist, ICAR) and Mr. Ardhendu Chakraborty, SMS-Plant Protection, KVK Khowai discussed briefly about various aspects of integrated pest management for Scientific Maize cultivation. Farmers were also sensitized about the emergence of new devastating insect Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Army Worm) and its possible management options. It was informed that further training and capacity building activities on this new insect management would be conducted by ICAR in collaboration with other organizations for its effective manaqgement.
Dr. Amaresh Sarkar, Asst Professor (Agril Engineering) College of Agriculture explained about the different phases of critical irrigation in Maize cultivation. Mr. Dipankar Dey, Subject Matter Specialist-Soil Science discussed briefly about the performance of collaborative demonstration programme of ICAR-KVK, Khowai during the year 2018-19. He also explained about the technologies which were demonstrated in the farmers’ field during the cropping season. In his speech he has explained various aspects of Nano Pump Technology and how it was effective in increasing the cropping intensity by providing the life saving irrigation to the crop.
Dr. Sentu Acharjee, Superintendent of Agriculture, Teliamura Agri-Sub Division, Govt. of Tripura appreciated the efforts of KVK & ICAR Tripura Centre for joining hands together for upliftment of the farming community through improve maize cultivation practices. He also ensured all sorts of supports from the side of Department of Agriculture to promote scientific Maize cultivation in the state of Tripura.
At last all the farmers including the Scientists, experts and members of the village councils visited the demonstration plots where the farmers grown maize with the adoption of various scientific proven technologies in a cluster of 8.84 ha area covering more than 50 farmers. Various queries related to scientific maize cultivation raised by the farmers were answered by the experts in the field itself. During the Field day, boiled green cob of demonstrated variety (DA61A) was served to the participants which was very much liked by the experts and farmers due to their sweet taste, good size and attractive golden yellow colour. Overall farmers were very happy with the performance of DA61A and they sold the green cob of maize @Rs. 80 /kg during early harvest to Rs. 40/kg during late season. Intercropping of cowpea, bitter gourd and okra with maize gave good income to the farmers in addition to main crop. The successful adoption of the technology motivated the other farmers for future adoption of improved maize production technology which found to be the ultimate success of the programme.
