Inaugurating the FLD program, Dr. R K Avasthe [Joint Director, ICAR Research Complex, Sikkim Centre] emphasized the need for year-round intensive production of vegetables to bring about perceptible change in the vegetable production scenario of the region. He further stressed upon the need of commodity-based and entrepreneurial oriented farming with the judicious use of available water. The Joint Director also distributed seeds of green pea and seedlings of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli to 59 progressive farmers of the village.
Guest of honour of the program, Karma Dichen Bhutia [Ex-Zilla Panchayat and Coordinator Krishi Samridhi NGO], appreciated the Lab to Land efforts of ICAR for quickly transferring the organic vegetable production technologies to promote horticulture production in the state.
Highlighting the importance of ‘Year Round Vegetable Production Technologies’, Dr. AK Mohanty [Programme Coordinator, KVK, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Ranipool, East Sikkim] pointed out that farmers should follow ‘One Village One Product’ system to boost marketable produce of single commodity, the release mentions.
Dr. Ashok Kumar [Scientist Senior Scale Horticulture] highlighted the year-round production of vegetables under low-cost plastic tunnels and demonstrated the construction of plastic tunnels. He also focused on off-season production of vegetables.
Dr. Ashish Yadav [Senior Scientist Horticulture] talked about organic cultivation practices of green pea and root vegetables as a profitable venture for the region in open as well as under plastic tunnels.
Boniface Lepcha [Program Assistant KVK Ranipool] coordinated the event and talked about the package of practices of cole crops [vegetables belonging to the mustard family]. He shared information on disease and pest management under organic production system.
AD D Misra [RA, HMNEH-I], Tezoshi Khawas [SRF, NICRA] and Bhim Singh [TSM] assisted in organizing the whole programme.
