ICAR Trains Senior Officials of State Horticulture Mission of Kerala on Organic Crop Production
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong successfully concluded five day Training-cum-Awareness Program on Organic Crop Production organized for Senior Officials of State Horticulture Mission, Government of Kerala on 27th February, 2015. In the valedictory function Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre appreciated the officers of State Horticulture Mission of Kerala for taking interest on organic crop production and scientists of the Centre for their efforts in organizing the training program. He highlighted the activities of the Centre related to organic production and stressed upon the need of this training program before adopting organic farming. Certificates were distributed to all the officers for successful participation in the training program. Dr. H. Kalita, Principal Scientist (Ento.) highlighted the relevance of this training program and briefed about the entire training program. Giving the feedback on the program, Mrs. Beena Jacob K. Joint Director of Agriculture, State Horticulture Mission, Kerala said that the program was well organized and the training manual contained all possible details of organic crop production techniques. Other members, Mrs. Sheela P., Additional Director (Agriculture), Mr. Suraj S., Technical Officer and Smt. Bindu Muralidharan, Technical Officer, State Horticulture Mission, Kerala also highly appreciated the efforts of ICAR Sikkim Centre in organizing the training program. During the technical sessions in five day training programme, Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director detailed the ‘physico-chemical and microbiological properties of soil, Dr. H. Kalita, Principal Scientist (Entomology), delivered lecture on ‘organic pest management in major crops’; Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) discussed on the ‘organic production technology of Sikkim mandarin, kiwifruit and major vegetables crops of Sikkim’; Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) talked on the ‘organic farming production standards and organic agronomic practices of major field crops’; Dr. R. Gopi, Scientist (Plant Pathology) detailed on ‘organic pest management in major crops of Sikkim’; Shri Shaon K. Das, Scientist (Soil Science) delivered lecture on soil sample collection techniques and organic nutrient management’. During the training program, all the members also visited the ICAR Sikkim Centre Research Farm and were briefed about the ongoing research and development activities. Besides, all the officers were also exposed to Ginger Processing Unit established at Majitar under H&CCDD, Govt. of Sikkim and some organic crop production farms done of the farmers of Sikkim.
