Farmers' Field Day held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2025: A Farmers' Field Day on Rapeseed-Mustard was held today at Thinungei Makha Leikai Community Hall in Bishnupur organised by the AICRP (Rapeseed-Mustard), College of Agriculture, Iroisemba, Central Agricultural University, Imphal.

The event was sponsored by NEH Component of AICRP (Rapeseed-Mustard) Scheme and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor TR Sharma, Registrar, CAU, Imphal said that India currently does not produce enough cooking oil to meet the needs of its population.

It relies on imported edible oil to meet 40% of its requirements, spending a total of Rs 1,50,000 crore every year.

To deal with this issue, the Indian Government has invested a sum of Rs 10,000 crore to double the production of oilseed crops over the course of 7 years.

Professor TR Sharma informed that for the first time in 2021-22, cluster demonstration on zero tillage cultivation of rapeseed-mustard was carried out across 10 hectares of rice-fallow farmland belonging to 14 beneficiaries.

After its success, this was later expanded across 35 hectares of land belonging to 51 beneficiaries in 2022-2023 .

In 2023-24, 64 beneficiaries cultivated rapeseed-mustard across 57 hectares and in 2024-25 this further expanded to 124 beneficiaries planting the oilseeds on 87.5 hectares of farmland, he added.

Professor Indira Sarangthem, Director of Instruction and Dean, COA, Iroisemba, CAU, Imphal shared that currently zero tillage cultivation of rapeseed-mustard is carried out at Komjao (40 hectares), Kha Khunou (20 hectares) and Uyumpok (27 hectares) .

She said that farmers can utilize rice-fallow cropland to cultivate rapeseed-mustard coupled with beekeeping to increase their income.

Speaking about oilseed cultivation in Ithai and Maklang villages, she added that these villages now have oil extraction machines and the same will be given to Thinungei farmers if they can produce a bountiful harvest.

During the event, experts informed the gathering about the optimum time to plant rapeseed-mustard, their varieties, using beekeeping boxes to help in pollination while also producing honey, among others.

The experts also accompanied the farmers and inspected the rapeseed-mustard fields.

Input materials including farming equipment were distributed to the participating farmers.

Notable dignitaries present at the event include Dr Pushparani Senjam, Scientist, AICRP (R-M), COA, Iroisemba, CAU, Imphal; Professor N Brajendra Singh, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding; Dr Lalita Mohan Garnayak, Director of Research, CAU, Imphal; Thokchom Nimai Singh, ex-Upadhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, Bishnupur and Dr Diana Shamurailatpam, Scientist, AICRP(R-M), COA, Iorisemba, CAU, Imphal.

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