ICAR-KVK demonstrates year round vegetable production under low cost poly tunnel
Growing and harvesting organic vegetables in all four seasons of the year has great demand and the market price is high at the start and end of the season. Production of off-season vegetable under protected conditions has the potential to become a profitable business where temperature and moisture is controlled for specific growth of various vegetables. The low cost poly tunnel is economical for small and marginal farmers who cannot afford huge cost of high-tech poly house. As the landholding size of the farmers is decreasing due to family fragmentation there is a need to increase the productivity of their available land. Off-season vegetable farming is a measure through which they can attain higher profit margins from the crop. Therefore, KVK-East Sikkim, ICAR-NOFRI, Ranipool in convergence with ATMA East Sikkim organized three-day long training cum demonstration programme on sequential vegetable cultivation under low cost poly tunnel system on September 06-09, 2017 at Thanka-Yangtang, East Sikkim. Around 52 nos. of vegetable growers’, representatives of SHG and individual progressive farmers attended the programme in presence of Mr. Amit Chettri, ATM-Martam Block, ATMA East Sikkim.
The program was chaired by Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR- NOFRI, Tadong, Gangtok. Addressing the gathering, he encouraged the farmers to undertake poly tunnel system with good agricultural practices to increase the production and productivity of commercial vegetable crops under organic cultivation practices throughout the year. He urged the farming community for adoption of the Govt. of India schemes viz., PMFBY, PMKSY, PKVY and soil health card etc.
Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Senior Scientist cum Head (I/c), KVK-East Sikkim, Ranipool appraised the gathering and also detailed about the different technologies of ICAR-NOFRI as well as different agricultural schemes. He emphasized that the inclusion of pulses in cropping system for better soil health is a good option.
Sh. Boniface Lepcha SMS (Horticulture), KVK East Sikkim discussed about the low cost poly tunnel for year round vegetable production in Sikkim. At the end of the programme he demonstrated the preparation of low cost poly tunnel at farmer’s field.
Dr. P. K. Pathak, SMS (Animal Sc.), Dr. N. J. Singh, SMS (Plant Protection) and Mrs. Pallabi Phukan, SMS (Agril. Extension) of KVK, East Sikkim interacted with the farmers and briefed about insect pest and diseases of vegetables as well as the role of different groups in scientific cultivation technologies of different commercial crops.
Ms. Bina Tamang, SRF, NICRA assisted the program. The program ended with vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Sonam Tshering Bhutia.
Issued by ICAR-KVK-East Sikkim
Demonstration of low cost poly tunnel for year round vegetable cultivation
Dr. R.K. Avasthe addresing to the farmers
