Training programme on improved production technology of pulse crops held

From a Correspondent

Haflong, Feb 21: The Regiol Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Shillongani in gaon district under AAU, in association with the Department of Agriculture, Dima Hasao conducted a day-long training programme on the improved production technology of pulse crops for the farmers of Thaijuwari area recently at Thaijuwari Bazar of the hill district.

Different pulse crops like pigeon pea, black gram, pea, gram and grass pea are being grown by the farmers of the district for many years with their traditiol varieties. However, the average productivity of pulses in the district as a whole is as low as only 627 kg per hectare, primarily due to growing of non-high yielding traditiol varieties as well as improper magement of the pulse crops, besides lack of irrigation facilities. The farmers also fetch very low price of their produce as there is no proper marketing facility in the district. In order to popularize the new high yielding pulse varieties developed and recommended by the Assam Agricultural University, quality seeds of Improved Pulse varieties mely PU 31(Blackgram), Pratap and SGC-20 (Green gram), Ratan (Grass pea) were demonstrated under a Tribal Sub-plan project in Jongsherhadi, Jaramdisa and Chotowashiling villages of the district so that the new improved varieties might spread in the district and farmers could harvest better yield of pulses as compared to their own traditiol varieties. A total of 15.0 hectares demonstration was conducted in the above two locations of the hill district.

The scientists who took part in the training programme held at Thaijuwari, as resource persons were Dr PK Das, TP Saikia, HK Borah, KK Sarma and bajyoti Deka from RARS, Shillongani, gaon. The village heads from Jongsherhadi, Thaijuwari and Kunkruwari and Ponen iding, a progressive farmer from the locality, also spoke on the occasion.  The farmers were told about the overall benefits of improved varieties and adoption of proper magement practices for higher yield of pulse crops. Farmers were also trained on production of quality seeds of pulses for meeting the higher demand of quality seeds of pulse crops during the time of sowing. A total of 60 farmers participated in the day-long training programme.