Technology Demonstrated to Agriculture and Horticulture Officers from Govt. of Puducherry at ICAR-NOFRI, Sikkim
A team of eight officers led by two deputy directors of Agriculture and Horticulture Department, Govt. of Puducherry visited ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong Gangtok on 13.03.2018 to learn about the organic farming. The officers have been briefed about the ongoing research activities that are going on in ICAR-NOFRI under Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Science disciplines. The programme was started at 9.30 am with presentations by the scientists about the various technologies available with ICAR-NOFRI on organic farming. Later a field visit to the ICAR-NOFRI farms has been arranged. The scientists have interacted with the team of officers at their respective experimental plots/ farms and demonstrated various technologies.
Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Principal Scientist (Animal Reproduction) deliberated upon the available technologies for profitable dairy, goat and poultry production under organic guidelines. He stressed upon rearing the superior indigenous livestock to increase and sustained production by exploiting their adaptation and resistance to various diseases including immunization, hygiene and bio security measures to be followed to prevent diseases. During interaction, he also discussed profitable poultry farming with Vanaraja chicken both in backyard and intensive housing systems for chicken meat and egg production. Later the officers have been demonstrated about the low cost deep litter housing system for rearing pigs under organic production system.
Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) talked about the technologies for year round vegetable productions under low cost plastic tunnels including package of practices for organic fruit and vegetable productions under climatic conditions of Sikkim. He also demonstrated about the making of low cost plastic tunnel, rain shelters and other technologies for round the year vegetable production.
Mr. Chandan Kapoor, Scientist (Plant Breeding) briefed the officers about the technologies for production of organic seeds. He also explained the techniques for quality seed production in tropical and temperate climatic conditions including storage conditions of seed for better shelf life.
Mr. Shaon Kumar Das, Scientist (Soil Science) detailed about the integrated soil nutrient management for organic farming including different organic sources of nutrients. He specifically enriched the knowledge of the farmers with the available technologies for enriching and maintaining soil fertility and health under organic production systems with the addition of farm yard manures from cattle, goat, poultry and pigs.
The participants were very enthusiastic and interactive during the lectures and demonstrations of various technologies at ICAR-NOFRI crop and livestock farms. At the end of the programme, Mr. Zakir Hussain, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Govt. of Puducherry proposed the vote of thanks to the team of scientists at ICAR-NOFRI, Sikkim for the successful conductance of the programme on organic farming. He reiterated that all measures would be taken to convey the technologies learnt to other officers and farmers of Puducherry. Mr. Adarsh Kumar and Dr. Padam Lal Luitel rendered their help and active cooperation for smooth running of the program.
-Issued by: ICAR-NOFRI, Gangtok, Sikkim
