The programme was chaired by Dr RK Avasthe [Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok]. Foremost, he appreciated the large participation of women farmers during the programme and highlighted the relevance of women’s empowerment in agricultural and allied activities in the state.
The necessity of unemployed rural youth to adopt agriculture as their business for their livelihood security was mainly focused upon.
The Joint Director also emphasized that the farmers should utilize their fallow land with proper cropping pattern capitalizing on the available improved production technologies. He urged the farmers to understand the importance of timely adoption of all organic production practices for effective and successful organic farming.
Dr Ashish Yadav [Sr. Scientist, Horticulture] elaborated the package and practices of summer vegetables cultivation during the programme. The farmers present were also made aware of the effect of climate change in the crops and the farmers were suggested to implement every possible technology for converting horticulture in to a profitable venture in the region.
Dr R. Gopi [Scientist, Plant Pathology] and Dr. N. Johnson Singh [Subject Matter Specialist, Plant Protection] shared information on diseases and pests incidence in different summer vegetable crops in great detail. They also focused on highly effective, preventive crop protection measures to protect the summer crops from various biotic and abiotic stresses under organic management.
Boniface Lepcha [Programme Assistant, KVK] interacted with the farmers in relation to the most significant production problems in summer vegetables and their relevant organic solutions.
