Officials along with the trainees during the avocado farming training for farmers held in Chümoukedima on September 8.
Medziphema, September 9 (MExN): To promote commercial fruit cultivation among tribal communities, the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Fruits, Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, organised a day-long training programme on avocado cultivation at Seithekema-A village in Chümoukedima district.
The workshop, titled "Planting, Care and Maintenance of Avocado," was conducted on September 8 under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) to expand avocado acreage across the state.
Delivering the core technical session, Dr Alemla Imchen highlighted the commercial viability and climatic suitability of avocado cultivation in Nagaland. The session detailed scientific protocols for orchard establishment, including site selection, optimal drainage, tree spacing, layout design, mulching, intercropping patterns, and orchard sanitation. Visual aids, including photographic case studies and video demonstrations, were utilised to explain canopy and orchard management.
In a dedicated technical segment on plant protection, Dr Bendangsenla addressed pest and disease management, reviewing crop distress issues directly raised by the growers and outlining preventive and chemical mitigation practices.
The programme was attended by 20 progressive farmers from Seithekema-A village. Highlighting the high initial capital investment required for avocado orchards, the village chairman welcomed the institutional intervention and stated that the outreach fulfilled a long-standing demand of local growers.
Following the deliberations, high-quality avocado saplings were distributed to all participants to drive immediate field adoption. Representatives of the AICRP on Fruits assured the farmers that technical guidance, monitoring facilities, and farm inputs would continue to be extended to all beneficiary growers.
