Dimapur, April 25 (EMN): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) conducted various demonstrations and capacity building programmes across several districts in the past one week.
Mokokchung: ATMA Chuchuyimlang block conducted a demonstration and capacity building programme at Chakpa village on April 19.
Resource person, Tangit Longkumer, ATM, conducted a demonstration on “Cultivation practices of cowpea”, while a capacity building on “Post-harvest management of horticultural crops” was delivered by Chubaienla Jamir, ATM. Value addition on chilli, tomato and ginger was also carried out.
25 farmers attended the programme and were provided with various farming inputs.
On April 12, ATMA Tsurangkong block conducted a demonstration on “Conservation of soil conservation in foothill terrain” with Zulutoshi Jamir, ATM as the resource person. He gave a hands-on demonstration on low cost bunding.
Meanwhile on April 13, a demonstration on “Cultivation practices of bitter gourd using crop support net” was conducted by Moanukshi Ao, BTM Tsurangkong block at Shihaphumi village.
The farmers were given a hands-on demonstration on preparation of fields and how to install crop support nets. Altogether, 32 farmers attended the demonstration programme.
Dimapur: ATMA Dhansiripar block organised programme on “Mobilisation of farmer’s group” and demonstration on “Fish pond management and culture practices” for the fish farmers at Integrated Farming System(IFS) farm, Doyapur on April 22
Nokener Ozukum, Assistant Fishery Inspector, Chief Executive Office (Fish Farmer Development Agency, Dimapur) was the resource person.
The farmers were mobilised on knowledge development, participation and skill upgradation on fish farming. In order to enlighten the farmers, practical demonstration on checking of pH of pond water, liming of ponds, counting of planktons and different feeding techniques was also carried out.
The programme was attended by 15 farmers from Doyapur and Amaluma village along with officials from Fishery department and ATMA functionaries. Fish feed and lime was provided to the participants.
Meanwhile, ATMA Medziphema block also conducted mobilisation of farmers groups and demonstration on line sowing of sweet corn (F1 hybrid) at Seitheke Basa village on April 22. E Lireni Kikon, ACTO (Plant protection), KVK-Dimapur was the resource person.
Whereas ATMA Chumoukedima block organised farmers mobilisation and demonstration programme at Bamunphukri 1 village on April 22.
Dr. Tiatula Jamir, BTM was the resource person. She informed that mobilisation and collective self-help within the group will pave the way to generate resources and will improve their own socio-economic situation. Dangshai SHG, comprising nine women farmers, was mobilised as a Food Security Group.
Later, a demonstration on the sowing method of pearl millet Var. Dhanashakti at a spacing of 60×30 cm was carried out.
She informed them to go for June sowing and emphasised on food security. She also encouraged the participants to cultivate bio fortified crops like pearl millet, which is rich in Iron and Zinc content.
She also added that besides high nutrient content, pearl millet has been gaining increasing attention as a Climate Change-Resilient and Smart Food crop on account of its high level of tolerance to drought and heat.
Inputs like seeds of pearl millet, maize (HQPM-5), hybrid vegetable seeds and hand-held hoes were distributed to the farmers.
Zunheboto: ATMA Zunheboto district conducted a district level training-cum-sensitisation of ATMA farmer’s friend at Multi-Cultural Complex, Zunheboto on April 25.
National standards of organic farming were highlighted by Aliho Shikhu, agriculture inspector, District Agriculture Office, Zunheboto. She stressed on the use of leguminous crops between cycles, diversification of crops through crop rotation to maintain the fertility of the soil and encouraged the use of biofertilisers, bio compost, vermicompost.
Dr. Vinoto Aye, veterinary assistant surgeon, highlighted the importance of an integrated farming system with piggery. Package of practices in pig farming was explained through a PowerPoint presentation.
