ICAR Organized Field Day on Rice Seed Productionin Tyrso, Meghalaya.
Availability of quality seed in time and place is the major challenge in enhancing productivity of rice and other crops. Realizing the importance of quality seed production,the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya organized a field day on ‘Rice Seed Production’inTyrso village, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya on 3rd October, 2016. The objectives of the programme wereto disseminate improved seed production technologies among the resource poor farmers to meet the demand and enhance the seed replacement ratio in North East India. A team of multidisciplinary scientists led by Dr. SV Ngachan, Director, ICAR Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya along with technical and research fellows visited farmers and interacted with the farmers from Tyrso village where the Institute has undertaken demonstration on high yielding varietiessuch asShahsarang-1 and RCM-10 in more than 5 hectare area under ICAR Seed Project in a participatory approach. About 35 farmers and 10 scientists participated in the programme.
Dr.Ngachan while interacting urged the farmers to select quality seed of suitable rice varieties for higher yield and income. He suggested famersto adopt improved package of practices such as maintaining proper water at critical stages, weed, insect and disease managementfor quality seed production. He promised to extend all necessary support to promote quality seed production thorough participatory approach in the village. Earlier, Dr. Anup Das, Principal Scientist and Head Division of Crop Production, ICAR-NEH, Umiam emphasized on the advantages of high yielding varieties of rice over the local varieties for higher productivity.He informed that high yielding short duration rice varieties are harvested earlier than local varieties and provides opportunities for growing rabi pulses such as lentil, pea with appropriate technology adoption. While interacting with the farmers, ICAR scientists suggested farmers to follow adequate plant population, transplant in line and adjust transplanting time for getting higher productivity. The poor performance of local rice under conventional practice was discussed by the scientists and farmers and agreed to adopt improved practices for food security of the region.
The meeting ended with vote of thank to the chair.
