SHILLONG: To commemorate the 85th foundation day of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) the KVK Ri Bhio at ICAR (RC) for NEH region Umiam, Barapani, organized the distribution of ‘Smart Farmer Certificate’ to about 100 farmers who have been benefited under the project – NICRA (National Initiative For Climate Resilient Agriculture).
These farmers from the Kyrdem village of Ri Bhoi district have been adopted by the KVK under the project and have been facilitated with various inputs and technologies like Jal kund, poly house cultivation, mushroom cultivation, improved breeds of pigs and poultry, integrated farming systems, which have direct or indirect relation to climate change. The function was graced by Director-in-charge Dr. N S Azad Thakur, Nodal officer of KVKs Dr. A K Tripathi, and Dr. R Bordoloi representing the Zonal Project Directorate.
Speaking to the farmers the dignitaries expressed the meaning of ‘smart farmers’ and were happy to know that the project has helped the farming community to become prepared in connection to global warming. On this occasion the KVK has also organized a farmer scientist interaction programme where the farmers were given the opportunity to put forward various problems faced by them on their fields. Most of the problems were related to animal sciences and plant protection where the Subject Matter Specialist of the KVK replied to their questions and also distributed medicines and bio-pesticides free of cost.