ICAR - KVK Demonstrated the Resource Conservation Technologies for Rabi Crops
In Sikkim, most of the area is kept fallow after rice due to non-availability of irrigation water and/ or soil moisture during winter season. Generally, most of the farmers in Sikkim follow mono-cropping, hence, the cropping intensity of the state is very low (118 per cent). Similarly, farmers’ of the state leave their rice fields fallow during rabi season instead of growing any second crop after harvest of kharif rice. Therefore, in order to enhance the cropping intensity of the state by exploring the best possible resource conserving technologies (RCTs) like zero tillage by retaining some part of rice stubble (at least 30%) and utilizing the residual soil moisture of kharif rice ICAR-KVK East Sikkim successfully demonstrated zero-till vegetable pea cultivation in low land puddled rice-fallow on 17th November, 2016 at Thanka, Martam, East Sikkim. The programme was organized with the leadership of Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong, Sikkim and guided by Programme Coordinator (I/c), KVK East Sikkim, Dr. Raghavendra Singh to progressive farmers of about 50 nos. of rice growers. Initially, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong, Sikkim addressed the farmers that vegetable pea under zero- tillage can be a climate resilient crop option which can be grown with the residual soil moisture. By adopting zero tillage, the farmers may increase the productivity, reduce cost of cultivation, increase the cropping intensity and earn an additional income with less effort. No tillage also helps in advancement in sowing on conserved soil moisture, hence, saves tillage cost, time and the soil is protected from erosion due to the retention of surface residue and increased organic matter accretion. Farmers were given hands on practice with complete organic package of practices in farmers’ field in presence of line department representatives Mr. Nilkanth Chetrri, VLW, FS&ADD, Govt. of Sikkim, Shri Nima Bhutia, Field Assistant, H&CCDD, Govt. of Sikkim and Mrs. Geeta Sharma, BTM-Ranka Block, ATMA East Sikkim.
The programme was smoothly executed by Mr. Boniface Lepcha, SMS (Horticulture), KVK, East Sikkim and elaborated the farmers about the technology and its use. Farmers were also given practical hands on cole crops cultivation under zero tillage system. Dr. P. K. Pathak, SMS (Animal Science), Dr. J. K. Singh, SMS (Plant Breeding) and Dr. N.J. Singh, SMS (Plant Protection) of KVK East Sikkim also attended the programme and interacted with the farmers in their respective fields.
Participating in the programme, Shri Sonam Bhutia, Progressive Farmer, Thanka Martam expressed his gratefulness for such field programme which would have more impact in future to utilize the rice fallow land with the technology. He further reiterated that this would be a paradigm shift ineffective extension approach which will encourage the rice growers to opt for rabi season vegetables and field crops cultivation.
Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI addresing to the gathering. Demonstration of no-till vegetable pea in rice -falloe to the progressive farmers of East Sikkim. Issued by Programme Coordinator, ICAR-KVK East Sikkim
