Kiphire, April 29 (MExN): Training on ‘scientific cultivation practices of apple & its post harvest management' was held successfully at Thanamir village on April 28.
It was organized by the District Administration Pungro in collaboration with Central Institute of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Medziphema, Dimapur, Nagaland and with the assistance of Department of Development of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA).
Shisarenla Aier, Training coordinator & Asst. Horticulturist, CIH, gave a powerpoint presentation on production technology of apples, propagation techniques, training and pruning and grafting techniques.
During an interaction with the farmers, common pest infections and Apple diseases like Mealy Bug, Powdery Mildew, Stem Borer and Shot Hole Borer were identified as the main reasons for decreased production and premature death of apple trees. Generating huge response from the Apple growers, the resource person dealt in depth about the importance of the use of Integrated Pest Management and use of organic pesticides along with weed management techniques to control pest infection and to increase the yield of apples. Other topics like Grafting method and Propagation of Root Stock methods were discussed.
Post harvest specialist, CIH, Manzar Hossian imparted training on the importance of Value Addition in Apples and demonstrated the preparation of Apple juice and Apple chutney to the trainees. The chairperson of the programme, Chonpenthung Ezung, SDO (C) Pungro, while lauding the resource persons for the successful training expressed his surprise that the farmers were lacking basic knowledge about Apple farming and are untrained to cope with common Apple tree diseases thereby incurring huge loses inspite of growing apples for the past ten years.
The trainees were encouraged to take up Apple production as a challenge for long term prospect and as a very economically viable alternative source of income. The chairperson also made an appeal to the concerned Department to take up the Apple project in Thanamir in a mission mode and to make it a success story. The meeting was attended by around 70 Apple growers and all the village council members of Thanamir village.
This was stated in a press release issued by Chonpenthung Ezung, SDO (C) Pungro, Nagaland.
.JPG)