Dimapur, December 8 (MExN): A one day farmer scientist interaction programme was conducted on December 7 at ATMA Training Hall, DAO office by ATMA Dimapur. The programme was conducted with an objective to imbibe scientific knowledge among the farmers regarding the importance of soil test based nutrient management.
During the programme chaired by Demalu Hasnusa, BTM (Niuland Block), welcome address was denoted by Dr. Ithika C. Swu, DPD, ATMA and encouraged the participants to highlight their constraints faced at their fields and also to share their ideas and ITK methods to the functionaries. A short documentary on banana fibre extraction and sericulture composed by ATMA Dimapur was shown to the farmers.
The resource persons included Dr. Anamika Sharma, Programme Coordinator, KVK-Jharnapani, Vizokhonyu Yhome, AO, Dept. of Agriculture, Dr. Lawrence Kithan, Scientist (Agronomy) & Kavi Sumi, Scientist (Pathology) both from AICRP-SASRD, NU, Medziphema.
Further, discussions based on queries raised by the farmers and experts were carried out in several topics like reduction in pigeonpea (arhar) yield due to pest attack, early fall of nuts and hollowing of trunk due to trunk borer, procurement of banana fibre extraction machine, proper crops that can be intercropped with oil palm to avoid rodent infestation. The farmers suggested that apart from asking them to stop using inorganic fertilizers the Government should control the sale of such chemicals by middlemen through various shops in order to make our state fully organic.
The resource persons encouraged the farmers to practice crop rotation for improvement of soil health, use farm manures and control pest through biological methods at the early stage. Also highlighted about the proper procedure of soil test and sampling techniques to be conducted at their fields before sowing or planting.
Later, DFAC Meeting was conducted wherein the members were requested to come forward with the idea of activities in the form of trainings that needs to be conducted at any blocks or in district level for the benefit of farmers. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Akavi, BTM, Kuhuboto Block.
