Kohima, November 21 (MExN): A one-day awareness and input distribution programme focused on promoting pulses cultivation in the North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region was held at Peducha village recently.
The event was organised by the ICAR-AICRP on Kharif Pulses from the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, in collaboration with several key institutions, including the Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur; SAMETI, Medziphema; and various departments of the Government of Nagaland.
The programme was graced by Prof Dipak Sinha, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Medziphema campus, as the guest of honour Dr Aditya Pratap, Project Coordinator of AICRP on Kharif Pulses, and Dr Hironya Kumar Borah, Chief Scientist from RARS, Shillongani, attended as Special Guest and Special Invitee, respectively.
In his address, Dr Aditya Pratap highlighted the importance of pulses as a primary protein source and detailed different government policies, including the National Pulses Programme, with a specific focus on the NEH region. He commended the efforts of AICRP on Kharif Pulses, SAS, NU, for its grassroots-level outreach to farmers.
Prof Dipak Sinha emphasised the success of the collaborative effort, which involved the Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR, the University, and various state departments, all working towards the end goal of supporting farmers.
Experts from collaborating departments, including Bodevi Shyuya from SAMETI, Dr Samadangla Ao from Kohima Science College, Kekhrieletuo Yhome from the Department of Agriculture, and Smti. Zuchumi Ovung from the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, engaged in talks with the attending farmers.
A total of 62 farmers participated in the programme. To support their agricultural activities, essential inputs such as knapsack sprayers, seeds (Chickpea and Pea), milled arhar dal, Pseudomonas culture, scrapers, and sickles were distributed.
