Farmers' training programme held at CoA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2024: A 1-day farmers' training programme on "Scientific Cultivation of Ginger, Turmeric and Black Pepper for Higher Production" was held today at College of Agriculture (CoA), Central Agricultural University (CAU), Iroishemba.

The training programme was organised by CoA, CAU, Imphal under the sponsorship of CSS-MIDH, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Calicut, Kerala.

A total of 90 farmers from different districts of Manipur participated in the programme.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Dr AK Bijaya Devi, Professor of Horticulture, CoA, Imphal emphasized the importance of selecting suitable varieties having better quality and following suitable agro-techniques for higher production of turmeric & ginger in the State.

She said that though cultivation of Black Pepper is a new venture, such challenging initiative is the need of the hour for boosting the income of the farmers as experienced in the other parts of the country.

Guest of honour of the programme, Chungong Pamei, Mission Director, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Donald Soubam, Project Director, Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur, expressed the importance of training to learn the new technologies in the cultivation of ginger & turmeric developed from the CAU.

Prof Edwin Luikham, Department of Agronomy, CAU, Imphal presided the function and also explained that the climate and soil of this North Eastern Region is suitable for cultivation of this spice crops and should take the advantage of raising turmeric & ginger on commercial basis with refinement in the production technology for improving the living standard of the farming community.

During the technical session, Dr Ps Mariam Anal, Assistant Prof of Horticulture & PI of CSS-MIDH programme explained on New venture on Black Pepper as future promising crop and advance propagation of seedlings of ginger & turmeric by using portrays.

"This advanced method reduces the cost of cultivation of ginger and turmeric", said Marian Anal.

Prof Kh Ibohal Singh, Entomology; Dr Nabakishor Nongmaithem, Plant Pathology and Dr M Chanchan Devi, Assistant Prof of Horticulture explained in details about the scientific cultivation of ginger, turmeric & black pepper for higher production and also their management of insect-pests and diseases and post harvest management Ginger and turmeric seedlings in portrays and rooted cutting of black pepper were distributed to the trainees.

Farmers also visited climate controlled poly houses situated in the college and demonstrated the new technology to the farmers.

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