Two-day long training prog begins
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 19 2023:
Under the AICRP on Seed (Crops), ICAR Research Complex for NEH, Manipur Centre Lamphelpat inaugurated a two-day training programme on 'Participatory Seed Production for Field Crops' at ICAR, here, on Thursday.
The inaugural function was attended by Agriculture commissioner Rk Dinesh Singh as chief guest, Seed Project ICAR Regional Centre NEH Region nodal officer Dr I Meghachandra Singh as president and Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation additional director K Debadutta Sharma as guest of honour.
Acknowledging that the on-going conflict has seriously affected paddy farming, RK Dinesh said in his address that assessment of the past few years has shown that exact yield in the valley is 3,500kg per hectare compared to 1,500-1,600 kg per hectare.
The reason for this difference could be due to non-usage of quality seeds in the hill areas.
If good quality seeds are not sown, the yield will not increase no matter the amount of micro-nutrients present in the soil.
As such, during the training programme, hill farmers will be imparted knowledge on how to prepare quality seeds and focus on green revolution, he explained.
In his speech, K Debadutta Sharma said that both agriculture and horticulture teach us how to preserve seeds for the next season.
If the preservation is not done properly, it affects both the yield and the overall economy.
In addition, farmers need to be aware of how long they can preserve the seeds.
Assimilating scientific input in existing traditional agriculture techniques could help in increasing the yield and economy, he added.
Altogether, 70 farmers selected from different hill districts are attending the training programme.