Port Blair, Nov 23: An awareness programme on Scientific backyard farming was conducted at the Panchayat Hall of Wimberlygunj under the Mera Gaon Mera Gourav programme last Saturday. A number of improved technologies related to horticulture and animalhusbandry have been developed at ICAR-CIARI for the benefit of islands farmers and to disseminate those, creation of awareness is a key step.
The programme began with the interactive lecture by Dr. AjitWaman, Coordinator of theprogramme. He gave an overview of quality indices of various spices in the markets anddescribed the techniques to produce the spices for meeting these quality parameters. Variousscientific production practices for traditional and non-traditional spices were detailed duringthe session. Integration of spices in the existing plantations, adoption of improved varieties,appropriateharvestingandhygienicpostharveststorageweresuggestedforimprovingprofitability of spice farming. Queries of participants related to harvesting, low-productivityandavailabilityofplantingmaterialwerealsoaddressed.
Toaddresstheissuesoffarmersdealingwithanimalhusbandry,atalkwasdeliveredby, Dr. P.A. Bala, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIARI. He gave an overview of various strategies whichcould be adopted by small scalefarmerstomake the backyard farming profitable. Selectionof fodder species, their propagation and production technologies, and incorporation in animaldiet were discussed in detail by him. Participants were also educated about composition ofvarious feeds, their preparation methods and advantages. He motivated the farmers to comeforward to adoptthenew technologiesforimprovingtheirincomelevels.
To promote cultivation of non-traditional spices, planting material of lemon grass was distributed to the participants. A total of 23farmers/ farm women and entrepreneurs participated in the event, which was organized underthe leadership of Dr. D. Bhattacharya, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIARI and facilitated by Mr Rajendra Pal, BDO. The event was conducted under the guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI.
