Agriculture scientists interact with farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 27 2022:
A team of agriculture scientists interacted with farmers of Andro Poiroupat area, who are growing rapeseed (mustard) as part of All India Coordinated Research project on Rapeseed Mustard, Central Agricultural University under the sponsorship of ICAR, Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research Bharatpur, Rajasthan on Saturday.
Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana's professor Dr SS Banga, ICAR Hyderabad former director Dr DM Hegde, Sadan University of Horticulture and Forestry VC Dr HC Sharma, CAU director of extension education Dr Ph Ranjit, and CAU director of instruction Dr 5 Basanta presided over the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, professor Ph Ranjit recounted that mustard farming was introduced in around 25 hectares of farmland in Andro Poiroupat area in 2020 and the farmers were told that they would not need much water as the plants can grow on morning dews with some occasional rainfall.
The farming area was expanded to 316 hectares in 2021 and 578 hectares this year.
Apart from the income they generate from mustard seed, the farmers can also earn Rs 25,000 annually through beekeeping in their farms.
As the farming technique require-less water, it is a viable option for farmers, he said and pointed out that farming activity could be taken up whole year if there are small water bodies like of pond for harvesting rainwater and sprinkler facilities are set up.
Dr Ph Ranjit also emphasised that farmers need to take up such activities after their normal harvesting season as most of the farmlands in the state remain unutilised after harvesting paddy.
Several professors, scientists and directors of different institutes from different parts of the state also participated in the programme.