Kohima, August 23 (DIPR): ATMA Kohima conducted an exposure tour to ICAR Research complex, Barapani, Shillong from August 17-19 under PMKSY. 15 farmers along with 3 ATMA officials participated in the tour.
The team visited the ICAR research complex, various farming units which were under study, where resource persons Dr. Pankaj Kumar Sinha (Scientist Agricultural Extension) and Dr. Subhash (Scientist Agronomy) shared on various models for integrated organic food production to sustain income for low and marginal farmers with land holding less than a hectare both in low land and up land areas.
The importance and advantages of land rotation for various vegetable crops and intercropping of cereal, pulses, oil seeds were also shared to the farmers. The farmers were also briefed on vertical farming in dry terrace called Agro-pastoral based farming system, which is under study to reduce soil erosion and runoff water. Agri-Horti-Silvi pastoral system to study the diversification of crops was also explained.
Encouraging the farmers to go for local variety fruits, the resource persons told them that every piece of land is potential therefore not to let it remain fallow. All the above mentioned models are purely based on integrated organic food production where nutrients cycle is balanced without any requirements or procurements from outside the farm.
Another objective of the trip was to learn about water harvesting. The group got hands on experience on various models for water harvesting system such as water harvest pond in up-land area and low cost system called “Jalkund” to collect maximum runoff water for various agricultural practices. The advantages and benefits of such models were discussed in detail by the resource persons. The farmers also got to see various agricultural implements and learnt how the machineries were operated both in up-land and low land areas.
