Focus on capacity building and livelihood opportunities for farmers, tree growers

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, March 21: To increase awareness among farmers, foresters and other counterparts of the society about the need of tree plantation for livelihood magement and mitigation of climate change, a two-day Tree Growers’ Mela has been organized from March 20 to March 22 Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI ), Jorhat.

Organizing secretary and scientist of the institute, Rajib Kalita said that  more than 300 progressive farmers of north-eastern States would take part in the Mela, apart from students of universities like Kolkata State University and Assam Cooperative magement University, Sibsagar, representatives from NGOs, SHG, JFMCs, industries, State Departments like Forest, Soil Conservation, Horticulture, Sericulture and BARD.

Delivering the welcome address in the iugural session of the Mela, Director Dr NS Bisht described about the ongoing lab-to-land activities of RFRI Jorhat to encourage livelihood opportunities and capacity building for farmers, tree growers and small industries holders of the region. Dr. Bisht gave special emphasis on cultivation of bamboo and agar and their value added products.

Dr Rafiquz Zaman, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Co-operative University and chief guest of the iugural session of the Mela in his speech described about the Rastrya Krishi Bikash Yoj and invited the farmers to take advantage of it. He explained about the farmer-friendly activities of Rajib Gandhi Co-operative University, Sibsagar and urged the farmers for a cooperative movement. He invited the beneficiary of RKBY to Assam Rajiv Gandhi Cooperative University with the concept of Co-operative (Samabai) Society in forestry, agriculture, and pisciculture. He directed the farmers to do the work by forming a legal forum, by making an enterprise with like-minded people to get more benefit.

The guest of honour, Dr D. Ramaiah, Director North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat enlightened the gathering through a lecture. In his lecture he emphasized the importance and responsibilities of the farmers. He described to the farmers about friendly technologies innovated in NEIST, Jorhat including agro technologies like production of citronola, lemon and mushroom.  He appealed to people to take advantage of these research findings by acquiring and applying them in their respective fields.

On this occasion, RFRI, Jorhat felicitated a renowned botanist, popular science writer and retired scientist of Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Anda Chandra Dutta for his outstanding contributions and activities towards promotion of science. In his lecture Dutta mentioned the need for conservation of locally available medicil and firewood plants to mitigate future fuel scarcity. He urged the farmers to incorporate such trees in their plantations to enhance livelihood options.

Another attraction of this Mela was iuguration of five information brochures on broom grass cultivation and magement, Boucherie Machine for bamboo preservation, bamboo charcoal production, Noni and Melia Dubia cultivation and magement.

Also present were Dr. Bipin Khangia, Scientist & Professor AAU, Jorhat, SK Thakuria, DFO Tinsukia, Mayur Bora, Assistant General Mager BARD, KK Saikia, DFO Social Forestry, Sibsagar, Samiran Bhatta Krishi Vigyan Kendra Jorhat and Dr. TC Bhuyan, RFRI, Jorhat.