World Soil Day cum Rabi Kisan Sammelan 2015 organized by KVK Ri-Bhoi & NRM Division, ICAR.
A programme of “World Soil Day cum Rabi Kisan Sammelan” was organized by KVK Ri-Bhoi in collaboration with NRM Division, ICAR at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam on 5th December 2015. At the beginning of the programme in the welcome speech, Dr. M. Mokidul Islam, Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK Ri-Bhoi explained the aims to connect people with soils and raise awareness on their critical importance by restoring and preserving the soil health. Dr. S. Hazarika, Principal Scientist (Soil Science) & Section Head under NRM Division presented in brief on soil health and organic manure production process to improve soil health, food and nutritional security. Dr. A.K. Singha, Director In-Charge, ICAR-ATARI, Zone-III, express his happiness in a huge farmers gathering and urged the farmers to cooperate with ICAR- KVK Scientists to test their soil and apply the technologies to improve soil health which might help to increase the productivity of crops. Dr. S. Chandra, Director In-Charge, ICAR, Umiam and Chairman of the programme also expressed his views about soil health with discarding the use of chemicals for improving productivity. The Chief Guest, Shri P.L.N. Raju, Director, NESAC, Umiam explained how space technology could help to identify the crops coverage, productivity through satellites and action plan could be prepared to improve soil health and the productivity of crop. He also urged the farmers not to destroy the green vegetation which might help to improve the soil health and crop productivity. Later on, 251 soil health cards was issued to KVK farmers of five different villages of Ri Bhoi district and 70 soil health cards to farmers of East Khasi Hills. More than 321 farmers from six different villages of Ri Bhoi and East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. About 7 Soil Testing kits were also distributed to 7 farmers of the 7 participating villages.
In addition, through Rabi Kisan Sammelan of KVK Ri Bhoi, the farmers were made aware about the various technologies developed at ICAR for wider dissemination and application by the farmer of Ri Bhoi district in particular and Meghalaya as a whole through Farmers’- Scientist interactions, distribution of technological inputs like mustard seeds (var. PM-28) 150 kg, Lentil (var. HUL-57) 300 kg and field pea (var. Prakash) 300 kg to 321 farmers during the programme from ATIC, ICAR Umiam. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Scientist (Soil Science).
