Dimapur, April 3 (MExN): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) organised various training, demonstration programmes and distributed farm inputs across Nagaland over the past week.
Ahthibung block: ATMA Peren Ahthibung block carried out demonstration programme on topics ‘Ginger Rhizhome treatment with Trichoderma- a fungicide’ and ‘Seed treatment with Biofertilizers- Azotobacter & phosphatica’ at Ginger Farm School, LilenVillage on April 2.
The resource person was Lireni Lotha, ATM of Ahthibung block, who spoke on the uses, purpose and benefits of using biofertilizers and Trichoderma as well as the procedure and precautions to keep in mind while using them. This was followed by practical live demonstration of how to treat the seeds, a press release informed.
Altogether 10 farmers attended the programme where Bio-fertilizers and Trichoderma packets were distributed by ATMA Peren. Ginger and Trichoderma supplied by SDAO, Jalukie office was also distributed to the Farmers on the same day, it added.
Kobulong block: Multiple programmes were organised by ATMA Kobulong Block under Mokokchung district, according to a press release on Sunday.
A Yimchalu village, a one-day training programme on management of fishery ponds was conducted on March 30 wherein Asst Fishery Inspector Neken was the resource person. He stated that sustainable, productive fisheries and aquaculture improve food and nutrition security, increase income and improve livelihoods, promote economic growth and protect the environment and natural resources. He covered all aspects from nursery pond, rearing pond, stocking pond, pre-stocking pond management and stocking pond management. Later, the 20 participating farmers had a productive interaction with the expert, the release stated.
On March 31, a demonstration on off-season cultivation of wheat intercropped with maize with an aim to determine the crop productivity, water use efficiency, soil management and economic benefits was conducted at Yimchalu with ATM Nuksunginla Jamir as the resource person.
She stressed on the various advantages of intercropping and also covered all aspects of package and practices of wheat and maize var HQPM and deliberated on proper spatial arrangement using double row intercropping system, method of sowing, sowing time and critical stages of irrigation. She elaborated on awareness of identification and management strategies for Fall Army Worm (FAW) in maize, the release stated.
Maize and wheat seeds provided by District Agriculture Office, Mokokchung were distributed to the 20 farmers who attended the programme.
A similar demonstration on intercropping of maize with French beans was also conducted at Sungratsu village on March 31 with Nuksunginla Jamir, ATM as the resource person. She stressed on the principles and some objectives of intercropping system like choice of crops, maturity of crops, optimum plant density ,time of planting, proper spatial arrangement and proper utilisation of resources. She elaborated on the various potential of intercropping of maize with French beans such as soil fertility, nutrient management, weed management and crop yield and also stressed on its cultivation practices through row intercropping system. She also informed the farmers on identification and management strategies for FAW in maize.
Altogether 20 farmers attended the demonstration programme where maize and French bean seeds provided by District Agriculture Office, Mokokchung were distributed.
Meanwhile on March 30, the ATMA Kobulong block conducted a method demonstration on improved fish feed management for improving production and economic returns. The demonstration programme was conducted at Yimchalu village Asst Fishery Inspector Neken as the resource person.
Neken said that good fish feed management can reduce overall culture cost, improve fish farm environment and ensure healthy growth of fish stock. He demonstrated every aspect from choosing the right feed, preparing and using correct method and calculating the feeding cost. In addition, liming of fish pond and checking the PH of the pond was demonstrated to the 20 farmers who participated in the programme.
