Officials with the participants during the three-day training programme for ATMA functionaries on the topic “Promotion of Natural Farming in NE Region” on February 13.
Medziphema, February 15 (MExN): The State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) organised a three-day training programme for ATMA functionaries on the topic “Promotion of Natural Farming in NE Region” from February 11 to 13.
The training aimed at promoting natural farming practices across the North East Region.
During the inaugural session, Yezaho Swu, Deputy Project Director (DPD), SAMETI, chaired the programme. The keynote address was delivered by Bodevi Shuya, Director, SAMETI and Principal, IETC, Medziphema.
Resource persons for the programme included Rosemary Ezung, Joint Director of Agriculture and Nodal Officer (Natural Farming), Directorate of Agriculture, Nagaland, Kohima; Dr Bendangla Imsong, SMS/CTO, KVK Dimapur, ICAR, NE Region, Nagaland Centre; and Dr Harendra Verma, Scientist (Plant Breeding and Genetics), ICAR, NE Region, Nagaland Centre.
The sessions covered topics such as introduction and fundamental principles of natural farming and its benefits; soil protection and environmental benefits; plant protection using natural pesticides; adoption of natural farming and its effect on crop yield; implementation, certification and challenges; crop management including multi-cropping, intercropping and maintaining biodiversity; economics and socio-economic aspects; specific models and regional variations; differences between organic and natural farming; livestock integration and sustainability; zero budget natural farming; and government schemes under NMNF.
Participants were also taken on a field visit to KVK Dimapur as part of the practical exposure component.
The valedictory programme was chaired by Yezaho Swu, Deputy Project Director, SAMETI. The valedictory address was delivered by Rosemary Ezung, Joint Director of Agriculture and Nodal Officer (Natural Farming), Directorate of Agriculture, Nagaland, Kohima.
Participants shared feedback on the training programme. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Akam Zeliang, Deputy Project Director, SAMETI, followed by distribution of certificates.
Altogether, 27 ATMA functionaries from 15 districts of Nagaland attended the training programme.
