Technology and Machinery Demonstration Mela 2020
A Kisan mela for “Technology and Machinery demonstration” was organized at Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya on 14th February, 2020. The activities in the mela included display and live demonstration of improved farm implements & machinery suitable for hill agriculture, use of plastic in agriculture (poly-house and pond lining), solar tunnel dryer, solar water pump, drip irrigation including automatic drip irrigation activities. A total of 165 farmers from different villages of Ri Bhoi District (Marngar, Umeit) and different villages from East Khasi Hills District (Lawmei madan, Lawmei), Meghalaya participated in the mela. Farmers were happy to witness and learn about improved technologies during live demonstration of the machines like mini tractor, mini-tiller, power tiller & its different attachments, grass/brush cutter, manual seed drill, vertical conveyer reaper, zero tillage row maker, winnower, weeder, pedal paddy thresher, zero till furrow opener, adjustable row marker, maize sheller, horticultural tools etc. Farmers also have shown keen interest for adoption of plastic lining of water harvesting pond, solar tunnel dryer, solar water pump, drip irrigation, automatic drip irrigation and low cost poly-house for off-season cultivation of vegetables and flowers. The mela was inaugurated by Dr. K. K. Baruah, Director in-charge, ICAR NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. He urged the farmers to adopt improved technologies for reducing the cost of cultivation and increasing production and productivity. During the occasion, a newly designed and developed turmeric slicer machine was also launched. Different small hand tools like hand fork, hand grass slasher, garden rake and adjustable row marker were also distributed to the tribal farmers in the mela.
