Most farmers yet to understand benefits of systemic intercropping and crop rotation techniques
Tuensang, February 11 (MExN): Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tuensang and Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) organized farmers-scientist interaction at Chingmelen village on February 8. Sponsored by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Tuensang, the programme was held under the theme ‘Production technologies of field crops like Rice, Maize, Pulses etc, with special reference to Post Harvest, Pests & diseases and Soil fertility Management’.
A press release informed that farmers during the interactive session raised various points related to their farming constraints to a panel of KVK subject experts.
“On analysis of the same, some commonalities in the constraints could be identified during the interaction that farmers were deeply attached to traditional system of cultivation with more cost involvement than profit; most farmers were yet to understand the benefits of systemic intercropping and crop rotation techniques,” the release stated.
Post harvest losses were mostly related to storage pest and improper storage system, it further said, adding problems related to soil, pests and diseases were also streamlined.
Some notable recommendations proposed by the panel of experts based on the problems raised by the farmers were growing of short duration improved varieties of maize like NMH-1247 with improved Soyabean varieties like RVS 2001-04, JS-9305, JS-9560 and Kholar as sequence crop, which cannot only increase the production but also cut down the production cost than the long duration local cultivars that engage the farmers round the year.
With regard to post harvest and storage pest in cereals and pulses, the panel of experts recommended preventive measures as well as mechanical measures like insect probe traps which are very effective in reducing managing storage pests.
For soil fertility management, the experts suggested that available resources like Azolla in TRC can be used to convert nitrogen rich compost for field application. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) were also suggested to take up input generation on site which can generate additional income. Meanwhile, KVK assured constant technology support.
The panel of experts comprised of Tokiho Achumi, Assistant Chief Technical Officer (Agronomy), Imtilemla, Assistant Chief Technical Officer (Soil Conservation), and Elisieni, SMS (Plant Protection).
Altogether, 42 farmers, mostly farm women, participated in the programme chaired by Chongshen Soted, Assistant Director, ECS. Earlier, keynote address was delivered by Vinoka, Deputy Project Director, ATMA, Tuensang.
