ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam promoted organic farming in cluster approach through input distribution cum field demonstration programme
Considering the importance of organic farming for developing healthy environment and healthy society, Division of Crop Production, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam organized input distribution cum field demonstration programme on promotion of organic farming in cluster approach on 15th March, 2017 at Pynthor Village to create the awareness about organic farming among the tribal farmers under the guidance of Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR, NEH, Umiam.
A total of 70 farmers across three villages’ viz., Pynthor, Mynsain and Umden of Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya participated in the programme. The programme was mainly conducted to train the tribal farmers about the latest organic farming technology and to distribute the critical crop production inputs among the tribal farmers. The programme was started with face to face interaction of tribal farmers with the subject matter experts. Farmers quires related to organic farming were answered by the experts. During the programme, Dr. Subhash Babu, Scientist (Agronomy) elaborated the cultivation practices of organic vegetables on raised and sunken beds in low land rice fallow to increase the cropping intensity and system profitability. He also talked about the management practices of vertical farming for efficient utilization of available land resources and to sustain the livelihoods. Community nursery for vegetables crops and use of jalkund water for life saving irrigation is also very important for saving resources and generating more income in organic farming, he added. In this programme the master farmers also teach to their fallow farmers colleagues about the benefits organic kitchen garden and integrated organic farming system.
Under the guidance of Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR Research Complex, Umiam and Dr. Anup Das, Head, Division of Crop Production, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam adopted Mynsain villages since 2013 for promotion of organic farming in cluster approach. But due to overwhelming response of farmers ICAR, Umiam, adopted two more villages i.e. Pynthor and Umden during 2016 under various schemes like NPOF-TSP and Institute TSP for promotion of organic farming in cluster approach. Now-a-days, community nursery, vermicomposting and integrated organic farming systems became very popular among the tribal farmers of these villages. During the programme, expert has suggested to the farmers to constitute the organic grower’s committees in the villages for making organic farming more profitable venture.
The programme was coordinated by the team of recourse person’s Dr. Subhash Babu, Scientist (Agronomy), Mr. Dauni Suting and Dr. Utpal Dey.
