Medziphema, October 26 (MExN): State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) organised a two days training programme on ‘soil health management & soil conservation practices’ for ATMA functionaries at SAMETI, Medziphema on October 23 and 24.
Resource persons for the training programme were Er Limasunep, Deputy Director and T Mar Longkumer, Department of Soil Health and Water Conservation Nagaland, Kohima. The training programme covered topics on Collection of soil sampling, Soil testing, Importance of plant nutrition, Soil pH, Reclamation of acid soils, Land capability classification, Soils of Nagaland, Water related problems in the state and Soil conservation practices.
The participants were also taken for a field visit to Bio-control lab, Agri-chemistry lab and Bio-fertilizer lab under IETC Medziphema. Dr Beremjungla, Lecturer and incharge of Bio-control lab gave a tour of the labs and educated the trainees on the functioning and activities undertaken by the Bio-control and Agri-chemistry labs while Yavikhotou Machieo, AFA Bio-fertilizer briefed the participants about the working of the Bio-control lab.
The valedictory function was chaired by Sentinaro Longchar, DPD SAMETI, while feedback on the training was given by Martin Joror, BTM, Phek and Azungla Longchar, BTM Zunheboto. In her valedictory address, Dr Beremjungla, Lecturer and incharge of Bio-control lab, IETC Medziphema remarked that the NE despite being a cultural and naturally well endowed region, crop and livestock productivity were still lacking behind other regions of the country, owing to the adherence to primitive and exploitative cultivation practices.She further encouraged all the participants to convey the message of the importance of soil to the farmers as farmers are mainly concerned about yield rather than soil health and also to work towards the task of making “Vision 2025-Food for All” a reality.
On the whole, the training program saw a good turnout of participants from all districts of the state and concluded with distribution of certificates to the participants by Dr. Beremjungla, Lecturer IETC & Incharge, Bio-control lab while vote of thanks was pronounced by Tiajungla Longchar, DPD SAMETI.
