Aspects of hill agriculture explored
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 26 2018: A three days "Skill Development Training Programme on Microbe based technologies" under Tribal Sub-Plan organised by ICAR-NBAIM, Mau in collaboration with ICAR RC NEH, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat came to end today.

The closing function was graced by Prof JM Laishram, Dean, College of Agriculture, CAU Imphal; Dr I Meghachandra Singh, Join Director, Manipur Centre, ICAR RC NEH and Dr Pawan K Sharma; Dr Hillol Chakdar and Dr Arjun Singh from ICAR-NBAIM, Mau, Uttar Pradesh.

A total of 100 farmers including women from Imphal, Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong participated in the training programme.

In his speech, Prof JM Laishram underscored the importance of soil health and the role that microbe based technologies especially the biofertilizers can play in rejuvenation of soil health.

Dr Meghachandra mentioned that the microbial population in the soil has declined and there is an urgent need to take steps to increase the organic matter content of the soil to restore its health.

Dr Pawan Sharma appraised the farmers about ICAR-NBAIM and the role that the Bureau is playing in the conservation, maintenance and utilization of agriculturally important micro-organisms.

Aspects of hill agriculture explored

During the course of the programme, various aspects of microbe based technologies namely mushroom production, biopesticides, biofertilizers, composting etc.

were covered in the form of lectures and live demonstrations by Dr Arati Ningombam, Dr Susheel K Sharma and Dr T Basanta Singh, from ICAR RC NEH, Manipur Centre.

The Bio-NPK liquid biofertilizers developed by ICAR-NBAIM, Mau were distributed and its application for seed treatment of rice was also demonstrated to the participating farmers by Dr Hillol Chakdar and Dr Arjun Singh.

They urged the farmers to use it for seed treatment to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers and restore soil health.

Various other important aspects of hill agriculture like protected cultivation, fodder production by hydroponics, soil health management, organic agriculture etc.

were discussed by Dr Pawan K Sharma, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBAIM, Mau, N Arun Kumar Singh, PC, KVK (Imphal West), Dr PK Saraswat, PC, KVK (Tamenglong), Kh Hera Singh, KVK (Imphal West), Dr B Sailo, ICAR RC NEH, Dr L Kanta Singh, KVK (Imphal West) and Dr M A Ansari from ICAR RC NEH.

All the participating farmers were given certificate of participation by Dr Ch Basudha Devi, Joint Director (Acting), ICAR RC NEH.

Dr Pawan Sharma thanked the Joint Director and all the staff of the centre and KVKs for facilitating the organiser of the training programme.