SHILLONG: As part of the extension programme to transfer its research technology, the scientists of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for NER Umiam-Barapani, conducted a two-day training cum interaction programme from September 13 at Mawlieh village near Rambrai about 15 km from Nongstoin.
The purpose of the first-of-its-kind training held at this remote area was to reach out to the farmers, build relationship and be acquainted with their agricultural and allied activities through interactions, and to facilitate becoming partners in certain technology if improved agricultural and other allied farming activities can be introduced in the village and its periphery.
The end purpose of the whole exercise is to accelerate agricultural production and allied activities for improvement of the economy of farmers and also to create in-field job opportunities for the small and marginal farmers in rural areas.
According to the scientists, to enable an increase in the income of farmers and to generate in-field job opportunities, it requires integrating agriculture with other allied activities like dairy production, dairy processing, poultry, duckery, fishery, piggery, goattery and post-harvest technologies for value added products. “This is required not only for food sufficiency and security but also for economy security amongst the farming community,” the scientists observed.
About fifty farmers specially selected by Pisci-Agro and Eco-Tourism Association (PAETA), a local farmer NGO which facilitated the training, attended the programme. The training cum interaction programme was jointly assisted by resource persons from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), West Khasi Hills, under the leadership of Marianna Dkhar, KVK Co-ordinator.
On the concluding day, ICAR Director, Dr. Ngachan, distributed high breed vegetable seeds, fish fingerlings and three agri-polythene sheets of 250 micron meant for Jalkunds (creation of rain-fed ponds meant for watering vegetables, animals or household cleaning during dry seasons) to the trainee farmers.