ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra East Sikkim organized awareness cum training on Rabi pulses
ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra East Sikkim organized awareness cum training on Rabi pulses on 27th October, 2015 at KVK, East Sikkim, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Ranipool under National Food Security Mission (NFSM). The objective of the programme was to make farmers aware of the benefits of pulses in terms of nutritional security and improving soil fertility under organic condition. Generally, pulses productivity in the state is lower than the national average. In this programme a total of 45 progressive farmers from different villages of East Sikkim viz; Upper Nandok, Lower Nandok, Mangthang, Ranka, Patim, Tirkutam and Nazitam participated. The farmers were benefited with input support system with untreated seeds of viz; field pea, vegetable pea, spinach, coriander, onion, tomato, beet root, radish, fenugreek and carrot.
The programme was chaired by Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre. Addressing the gathering he briefed on organic cultivation of vegetable pea under zero tillage technology in rice fallow. He also encouraged the farmers to undertake production of quality seed to retain for becoming self-dependent since treated seeds had been banned in the state. He encouraged the farmers towards establishing the sources of organic inputs within the farm to reduce dependence on outside inputs.
Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Sr. Scientist (Agronomy) and Programme Coordinator (I/c) welcomed the gathering and highlighted the objectives of programme and briefed about the scientific cultivation of field pea in rice fallow. He also discussed the importance of pulses in cereal based cropping system regarding the of soil fertility enhancement. He stressed to utilize their farm land which they keep fallow after rice so that cropping intensity would increase up to at least 200 per cent and livelihood security of the farming community.
Special Guest of Honor, Sh. K.D. Bhutia, President, Farmer Produce Organization and Member, Sikkim Organic Mission Steering Committee urged the farmers to adopt the technologies developed by ICAR Scientists and demonstrated at KVK Farm as well as on farmer’s field to enhance the production and productivity of various pulses in Sikkim.
In the technical session, Dr. Ashish Yadav, Sr. Scientist (Horticulture) discussed about the cultivation practices of year round vegetable cultivation in Sikkim. Dr. R. Gopi, Scientist (Plant Pathology) briefed about the different diseases of pulses as well as the other commercial crops and their management. Dr. N.J. Singh, SMS (Plant Protection) encouraged the farmers for preventive measures of insects pest management especially under organic farming. Sh. Boniface Lepcha, SMS (Horticulture) described the newly developed technologies suited to small and marginal farmers in vegetable cultivation.
Dr. J.K. Singh, SMS (Plant Breeding) coordinated field visit of the farmers and showcasing the newly improved technologies undertaken on farm trials and front line demonstration at KVK Marchak Farm. He also demonstrated the construction of low cost plastic tunnel. All the KVK staffs coordinated for smooth conducting the programme.
At the end of the programme, vote of thanks was proposed by Miss. Pallabi Phukan SMS (Social Science).
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