By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 3: Various stakeholders came together for a one-day meeting on ‘Scientific Cultivation for Sustainable Production of Arecanut and Cocoa’ held at the Meghalaya Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (MAMETI), Upper Shillong, on Friday.
According to a statement here, the programme was jointly organised by the ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala, Directorate of Horticulture, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and the Department of Soil & Water Conservation, Meghalaya.
The session featured technical presentations by experts from ICAR–CPCRI, Kasaragod and ICAR–CPCRI, Kahikuchi (Assam).
Dr Bhavishya, Scientist at CPCRI, spoke on ‘Arecanut Production Technologies’, followed by Vinayaka Hedge, Head of the Division of Crop Protection, CPCRI, who elaborated on ‘Plant Health Management in Arecanut’.
Dr Alpana Das, Scientist In-charge at ICAR–CPCRI, Kahikuchi, highlighted the ‘Prospects of Cocoa Cultivation in Meghalaya’.
Dr Balkho R. Marak, Assistant Soil and Water Conservation Officer, Shillong, shared insights on the current status of cocoa cultivation in the state, while M. Ch. Marak, Assistant Director of Horticulture (PSC), Shillong, presented the state’s arecanut plantation profile.
Around 100 participants, including senior officials from the Directorate of Horticulture, Agriculture Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ATMA functionaries, and farmers from across the state, attended the meeting.
As a precursor to the main event, a field visit was conducted on May 1 to a Budrot-affected arecanut plantation at Nongmyndoo village in West Khasi Hills district.
Experts engaged with farmers and provided practical guidance on prevention and control measures for Budrot or Crown Rot disease.