Field day cum orientation programme on “Participatory Seed Production”
Field day cum orientation programme on “Participatory Seed Production” was organized by Division of Crop Production, ICAR Research Complex on 24-10-2018 at farmer’s field in Labansaro village, Meghalaya. The programme was conducted in the presence of an expert committee namely, Dr. Sharad Tiwari, Professor and Head, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, JNKVV, Jabalpur,Dr. Rakesh Kapila, Nodal Officer (Biodiversity) & Professor, Seed Science and Technology, HPAU, Palampur, Dr. D.T. Deshmukh, Professor, PDKV, Akola, Dr. Ramesh K.V., Scientist (Genetics and Plant Breeding), IISS, Mau and Dr. I M Singh, Principal Scientist & PI, ICAR Seed Project, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Manipur centre for proper monitoring, guidance and orientation to the farmers of Meghalaya about quality seed production of various crops.
A total of 150 farmers from various village of Ri-Bhoi have participated in the programme. Dr. Sharad Tiwari in his inaugural address explained the importance of quality seed production for ensuring the financial security of hill farmers. Dr. Rakesh Kapila has discussed the various steps involves in seed production like maintaining of isolation distance, avoiding of mechanical mixture, growing of true to type seed etc. Dr. D.T. Deshmukh has briefed about the profit owned by Maharashtra farmers who adopted the quality seed production technique. Farm income of rice growers can easily be doubled or even more if they adopt the quality seed production on their farms, he added. Furthermore, he also explained the nutrient requirement for various crops to harvest the profitable crop yield, besides maintain the soil health. Dr. Ramesh K.V also explained the need to produce quality seeds as Institute can’t multiply the required quantity of seeds at its farm and thus seeds have to be produced in participatory mode under proper inspection and monitoring of the scientists of the Institute. Dr. I M Singh stated that proper seed storage is very important to avoid the various kind of loses and to enhance the germination percentage and varietal mixture discussed the isolation distance based on crop nature. The Monitoring Committee also monitored the seed production plot at various locations in Meghalaya where Shahsarang rice was grown on more than 5 ha area in farmer’s participatory seed production mode. The committee members expressed their happiness about the crop management under participatory seed production programme. The programme was co-ordinated by Dr. Amit Kumar, Scientist (Plant Breeding), Dr. Subhash Babu, Scientist (Agronomy) and Dr. Krishnappa, R. Scientist (Plant Physiology). A team of research fellows and associated namely, Miss Moutusi Tahashildar, Abhishek Singh was actively involved in organizing the programme.
