Agro Met Field Unit
ICAR, Jharnapani. Medziphema
Total rainfall received in Dimapur district during March month was 22.5mm which was 53% less than the normal, total number of rainy day was 4. Rainfall during the first quarterly period (Jan to March) of this year was 33% less than the normal.
Crop Advisories
Maize - Timely weeding and earthing up should be done for the plant to grow well. Daily monitoring should be done for dead hearts and timely removal and destruction of dead hearts should be done.
Early identification of FAW symptom is a must for effective management.
Potato – For aphids, thrips, white fly spray NSKE 5%. In hilly regions, used local available materials such as paddy straw or leaf litter as mulch for controlling weeds and reduce run off loss and conserving moisture.
Rajmash – For aphids, insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem oil are usually the best method of control; always check the labels of the products for specific usage guidelines prior to use.
Okra - Periodically remove and destroy the borer affected shoots. Always use freshly prepared neem seed kernel extract (NSKE). Apply pesticides only when required.
Brinjal - Monitoring should be started for fruit and shoot borer as the damage by this insect starts soon after transplanting of the seedlings and continues till harvest of fruits.
Banana - Tomato, chilly and cucurbits should not be grown as intercrop since these crops harbour nematodes and aphids, which act as vector of virus spread. After flowering, only one healthy side sucker should be allowed for first ratoon and the remaining suckers should be uprooted
Litchi - Spray neem seed extract at 7 days interval at colour break to reduce fruit borer infestation.
Fruit cracking: Maintain optimum soil moisture for better development of fruit.
In case of manual field operations of harvesting/picking, accomplish the operation in 4-5 feet spaced strips assigning one strip to one person. This will ensure adequate spacing between the engaged labours.
Adequate personal safety measures to be taken for loading and transporting of farm produce and while participating in sale at market yards.
Livestock Advisories
Poultry
- During this season, avoid overcrowding of birds; water intake should be increased as even a slight shortfall of water can lead to heat stroke and mortality; shifting, transportation, de-beaking and vaccination should be done during night or cool hours of the day.
- Poultry house should be kept well ventilated during the day time as the day temperature has increased.
Piggery
- Regular deworming and proper immunization of piggery should be done. Carry out a precise vaccination schedule for each herd. Work out the vaccination program with disease authorities in a particular locality.
- Animals should be vaccinated against all infectious diseases before the monsoon starts.
- Avoid vaccinating animals during extreme heat conditions. Plan to vaccinate in the early morning hours when temperatures are low to moderate. Always read label instructions as this will give you plenty of information on the type of animal to vaccinate, the dose, and route of administration.
Fisheries
- Stocking should not be delayed once the pond water turns greenish.
- Quality and disease free fish seed should be procured from certified hatchery or from known source.
- Species composition includes Rohu – 20 %, Catla – 25 %, Mrigal – 20 %, Silver carp – 15 %, Grass carp – 10 % and Common carp – 10%.
- The pond should be stocked with 10000 fingerlings per hectare.
- Since natural food is not enough to meet the feed requirement of the growing fish, the fish should be fed with supplementary diet which can be either prepared at home or procured from market (commercial feed).
- Supplementary feed can be prepared by mixing Rice polish/Rice bran and mustard oil cake (1 : 1 ratio) and provide the diet in dough form @ 4 kg /day/ha.
