Off campus training programme on “Innovations in Farm Mechanisation for small holdings” on 14th March 2019 at Division of Agricultural Engineering ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam
A one day session for off Campus training Programme on “Innovations in Farm Mechanization for small holdings” was organized by the Extension Education Institute (NE Region), Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat in collaboration with Meghalaya Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (MAMETI), Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Meghalaya, Upper Shillong and Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR Research complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya at Division of Agricultural Engineering on 14th March 2019. The session was inaugurated by Dr. B. K. Sethy, Head (i/c), Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya in the presence of Dr. S Borua, Course Director for the programme, Extension Education Institute (NE Region), Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. Twenty five number of participants comprising from Extension functionaries/Official from the State Department of Agriculture and allied Departments including ATMA Extension Functionaries of Meghalaya attended the session. Dr. Sethy emphasized on the importance of Mechanisation for small holding especially in the hilly areas. With the use of these improved farm tools and machinery, it will increase production and improved utilization efficiency of inputs and reduce drudgery of the farmers. Use of machinery for post-harvest processing will also enhance the farmer’s income. Dr. S Borua, brief about the purpose of this programme and emphasized that the extension functionaries should work hard and try to convince a small holding farmers about the importance and benefit of mechanization and how this would help them in a positive manner in terms of production, income and their health and many more.
Er. Huidrom Dayananda Singh, Scientist (FMP), presented on “Farm Mechanization in small holdings in Hilly areas”. Er. Naseeb Singh, Scientist (FMP), discussed about “Uses of Tractor and Power tiller in Hilly areas”. Er. Hillary Suna (T-4), explained about the “Improved Farm Tools and Machinery for Hill Agriculture” with demonstration on zero till seed cum fertilizer drill, vertical conveyer reaper, zero tillage row maker, grass/brush cutter, manual seed drill, winnower, weeder, motorized paddy thresher cum blower, pedal paddy thresher, zero till furrow opener, adjustable row marker, maize sheller, power tiller, mini-tiller, horticultural tools, etc. Er. Aftab Hussain (T-4) conducted farm visit and exhibited plastic lined water harvesting pond like the jalkund, polyhouse with demonstration of all the equipment of agro-processing center of the division.
At the end of the session, positive feedbacks were given by the participants about these off campus training programme on “Innovations in Farm Mechanization for small holdings” and they will help the farmers from this hilly region to adopt this tools and machinery to double the agricultural production.
