Sajong farmer group bags Regional Best Innovative Farmers Award

GANGTOK, 31 Mar [PIB]: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tura, organized an “Agri Exhibition cum Showcasing of Farm Innovation Day” on 26 March at KVK Tura, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Farmers from all the North Eastern States actively participated in the programme along with their innovations.

Four farmers from Sikkim participated and showcased their farm innovations during the programme. Maya Bhutia and Gayatri Bhutia from Kisan Samridhi Group of Sajong, East district and Hom Prasad Chauhan and Indira Chettri from Sadbhawana Farmers Group of Sadam, South district attended the programme through KVK (ICAR Sikkim Centre) East Sikkim, Ranipool under the leadership of Programme Asstt. (Soil Science), Boniface Lepcha.

Farmers of Kisan Samridhi Group, Sajong East district of Sikkim was conferred with the Best Innovative Farmer Award for their effort to add value to their business of the locally prepared products of maize and rice.

The representative of Kisan Samridhi Group of Sajong displayed indigenous value added products of maize and rice processed under secondary agriculture. They have made innovative efforts to increase the value of their business through promotion of some of the locally prepared products of maize and rice to raise agriculture in to more entrepreneurial levels since 2006. Similarly, the representative of Sadbhawana Farmers Group of Sadam, South district also showcased the innovations on tomato disease management through leaf extract of indigenous plants.

Secretary DARE & Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. S. Ayyappan along with Director, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Barapani, Umiam, Dr. SV Ngachan and other ICAR officials attended the programme. The dignitaries highly appreciated the innovations of Sikkim farmers displayed on this occasion.

Innovative farmers of Sikkim extended their deep gratitude to ICAR Sikkim Centre for the opportunity to participate and exhibit their different farm innovations on such an important occasion. Exposure programme of the farmers of Sikkim is expected to motivate the farming community of the state to opt for agripreneurship in different areas of agriculture and allied sectors in future. Overwhelmed with the success of the farmers of Sikkim, Joint Director, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Dr. R. K. Awasthe has extended his best wishes and urged the farming community to develop better innovations to make agriculture more profitable and sustainable in the state.