Longleng, March 16 (MExN): ICAR Research Complex for NEH Nagaland Centre and KVK Longleng jointly organized farmers’ awareness programme cum training on ‘Jhum improvement for food security of tribal farmers through sustainable intervention’ and ‘strategies to counter climate change in agriculture and allied sectors’ on March 8 at Hukphang village, Longleng district.
A press note informed that about 53 farmers from Hukphang and Lingtak villages participated in the event, which started with the awareness cum training on jhum improvement. Dr. LK Baishya, Senior Scientist, ICAR Nagaland Centre elaborated to the farmers about the sustainable options to enhance the productivity of the jhum land. He also emphasized on adopting market-led farming for increasing the income of the farmers.
Dr. Manoj Kumar, Subject Matter Specialist, KVK Longleng highlighted the initiatives of the KVK for jhum improvement. Meanwhile, Programme Coordinator, Dr. KL Meena gave detailed information about the role of KVK for the development of farming community of the district.
The programme on ‘strategies to counter climate change in agriculture and allied sectors’ was organized to sensitize the farmers about the challenges in agriculture and allied sectors in the changing climatic scenario and role of Agromet Advisory services in improving the agriculture. Dr. LK Baishya educated the farmers about the effects of climate change in agriculture and livelihood. Dr. Manoj Kumar spoke on adaptation strategies for agriculture and allied sector under climate change.
Romen Sharma, Scientist ICAR, Nagaland Centre informed the farmers about the importance of Agromet Advisory services of GKMS project which gives location specific farm advisory services on agriculture and allied sectors based on the weather forecast and crop information available from the districts of the state. He insisted the farmers to take advantages of the mobile SMS services for better planning of their agricultural operations. He concluded with a request to all the farmers to get registered with the SMS service by providing their mobile numbers to ICAR Nagaland Centre.
Scientists from ICAR Nagaland Centre and KVK Longleng staffs also visited farmers’ field and interacted with the farmers on March 7 and 8 at Pongching and Yongam villages. The farmers were given awareness on promotion of maize and groundnut for enhancing the production and productivity of livestock in Nagaland. Dr. LK Baishya highlighted the importance of quality feeds in piggery and poultry farming and encouraged the farmers to adopt maize and groundnut for self sufficiency in quality feed for promotion of livestock farming as the state is deficit of about 80 per cent in meat production.
