ICAR – NOFRI Observes Jai Kisan - Jai Vigyan Week
This program on Jai Kisan-Jai Vigyan week was undertaken to further strengthen and integrate the role of farmers as well as the science to consolidate the benefits achieved under Green Revolution into Evergreen Revolution. The program is initiated on the birth anniversary of Ex-Prime Minister, Govt. of India, Late Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh on December 23, 2015 every year. The program also observed Technology Week and more such programs are scheduled to be held at ICAR-NOFRI and farmer’s field. On the occasion, two-day Training cum Awareness Program on ‘Organic Crop Production’ was organized for the Tribal Farmers under TSP project by the ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute, Tadong, Gangtok in collaboration with ICAR-KVK East Sikkim at Khamdong VAC, East Sikkim during December 22-23, 2016. During the TSP training program, National Mushroom Day was also observed on December 23, 2016. Total of 63 nos. of progressive farmers from Khamdong GPU, East Sikkim participated in the program. Seeds of vegetable pea, mushroom spawn, plastics, organic pesticides and biofertilizers were distributed to the farmers. Farmers were detailed organic crop production techniques through power point presentations for quick and easy learning the ICAR technologies.
Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR–NOFRI, Tadong in his address and presentation stressed the farmers to implement the improved production technology of different crops for sustainable farming in the State. He detailed the organic nutrient management techniques through various sources of organic nutrients. Addressing the gathering, he further detailed the year round cropping sequences for higher profitability under climatic change scenario and urged the farmers for establishing the sources of organic inputs within the farm to reduce dependence on external inputs and also to undertake production of quality seeds for future use. The farmers were suggested to keep some bio-pesticides as precautionary measures to avoid major disease and pest incidences. On the eve of National Mushroom Day, he also detailed the nutritional and health benefits of mushrooms and its biodiversity available in Sikkim.
Initiating the program, Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong presented the cultivation practices for year round organic vegetable cultivation under low cost plastic tunnel and rain shelters which can empower the farming community and their livelihood status in Sikkim. He also detailed the production technology of Sikkim mandarin under organic conditions.
Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) and Program Coordinator (I/c), KVK–East Sikkim presented the organic conservation agriculture and package of practices for maize and rice based cropping system. He emphasized on the importance of inclusion of leguminous crops in cropping system which not only increase the cropping intensity from 120 to 200-300 per cent and but improves the soil fertility. He also briefed about the no-till cultivation practices of field pea, lentil and yellow sarson after rice harvest.
Dr. Matber Singh, Scientist Senior Scale (Agroforestry) ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong detailed the different agroforestry systems and benefits of incorporation of large cardamom plantations with tree plantations in hill eco system. He detailed the horticulture based, crop based and fodder based agroforestry systems.
Dr. N. J. Singh, SMS (Plant Protection) KVK East Sikkim detailed the major insect pests and diseases of Rabi crops in Sikkim conditions and their management strategies through various approaches under organic condition. He emphasized the farmers to opt for preventive measures of pests’ and diseases management in vegetables and other crops especially under organic farming system for increasing productivity. He also presented the mushroom spawn production to encouraged agri-entrepreneurial ability to the farmers during National Mushroom Day program.
Coordinating the program, Shri Boniface Lepcha, SMS (Horticulture), KVK East Sikkim briefed about the nursery management of vegetable crops and interacted with farmers for their technical problems of low production and productivity from the farming system under organic condition and also stressed the farmers for improved production technology of Rabi vegetables which can empower the farming community and their livelihood status.
Miss Pallabi Phukan, SMS (Agril. Extension), explained the importance of SHG for upliftment and women empowerment in the village. She also detailed the various activities conducted under KVK East Sikkim.
Later the farmers’ were practically demonstrated to scientific cultivation of oyster mushroom and development of low cost poly tunnel at farmer’s field.
Mr. M.J. Rai, Panchayat President; Shri Jeewan Lamichaney, Panchayat Secretary; Smt. Somit Lepcha, Panchayat Vice President; Shri K.W. Bhutia and Smt. B.M. Tamang, Panchayat Member 41-Khamdong GPU were also present during program and thanked Joint Director and team for organizing training program.
The programme ended with vote of thanks by Miss Pallabi Phukan, SMS (Agril. Extension).
Issued by: ICAR-NOFRI, Gangtok
Joint Director ICAR-NOFRI addressing the progressive tribal farmers of Khamdong GPU Joint Director, Scientists and SMS along with the progressive tribal farmers of Khamdong GPU
Joint Director distributing input to the progressive tribal farmers of Khamdong GPU Practical demonstration of construction of low cost plastic tunnels to the progressive tribal farmers of Khamdong GPU
