Officials and farmers during the launch of the Seed Village Programme at ICAR-KVK Peren, Nagaland, on June 27.
Jalukie, June 29 (MExN): To boost agricultural productivity and ensure self-sufficiency in quality sesame seed production, the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, in collaboration with KVK Peren, launched the Seed Village Programme at ICAR-KVK Peren, Jalukie on June 27.
The initiative, targeting the sesame crop (variety: Cums-17), brought together over 60 farmers from Beisumpuikam and Jalukieram villages, along with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. K. L. Meena, Principal Scientist and Head of KVK Peren, underscored the role of seed villages in empowering rural farming communities with access to high-quality seeds.
Dr. H. Kalita, Head of Regional Centre (HoRC), ICAR Nagaland Centre, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He shared the long-term vision of the initiative and reaffirmed ICAR’s commitment to supporting farmers in the state. Special Guest Dr. Zeliegai Ndang, District Agriculture Officer (DAO), Peren, appreciated the efforts of ICAR and KVK in enhancing seed security, urging farmers to make full use of the programme to increase yields and incomes.
Scientist Dr. Harendra Verma of ICAR Nagaland Centre explained the importance of quality sesame seed production under the seed village concept, while Dr. Akshay Ujjwal, Subject Matter Specialist (Agronomy), elaborated on the package of practices for sesame cultivation specific to the NEH region.
A farmer-scientist interaction session allowed participants to share experiences and clarify concerns. Sesame seeds and essential farm inputs were distributed to all attending farmers to kickstart the seed village activities.
