Harvested maize in farmers field, 2019-20.
Rationale: Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Nagaland. The people use it for dietary purpose as well as for livestock feed. The average productivity of maize in Nagaland is 1.26 t/ha and in Peren district 1.46 t/ha, which falls far short of the national average of 2.43 t/ha. Thus, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Peren took up varietal evaluation of maize varieties for two years in 2017-18, and 2018-2019.
Objective: (i) introduce superior hybrids that can be used as a means of increasing production and productivity in the district. (ii) Evaluate the performance of hybrid varieties in farmers’ field with traditional system of farming. (iii) Increase the income of farmers through increased production and productivity.
Materials & methods: Three different hybrid maize were taken up to be compared with the local variety’ Lingta’. The topography of the site varied from gentle to hillock and flat land near the river bank. Vivek hybrid maize 45 and 53 were obtained from ICAR, VPKAS Almora, and var. All-rounder was obtained from authorised supplier in Dimapur.
Results: Among the four varieties of maize evaluated, it was found that
(a) Yield was highest in All-rounder (29.07 qt/ha) followed by VHM45 (28.31 qtl/ha) and VHM53 (25.48 qtl/ha) and last by local cultivar Lingta (17.4 qtl/ha).
(b) Yield per day was highest in VHM-45 (2.4 Kg) followed by All-rounder (2.2 Kg).
(c) Seeds of VHM-45 were found to be best in size, cobs size was also uniform.
(d) VHM-45 being a stay green type has the added advantage of fodder from stalk.
Thereafter, variety VHM45 was selected for popularization under Frontline Demonstration in 2019.
Field day on Maize VHM 45.
Frontline Demonstration on Popularization of VHM45 maize in 2019-20
FLD on maize VHM45 was conducted at Jalukiekam, Beisumpuikam, Jalukie B and Punglwa village. Seeds were distributed to the farmers after conducting training programmes and method demonstrations for the farmers in the fields. Thirty households were benefitted.
Result: Farmers harvested bumper crop in 2019. Produced were also used for feeding their live stocks. Farmers were able to sell their surplus produce for income purpose. Thus, effort must be made to encourage the adoption and use of superior hybrid maize varieties as a means of increasing maize productivity and production in the state.
Article contributed by Patu K Zeliang, Z James Kikon, L Babita Devi from KVK Peren, Jalukie; RK Khulbe, ICAR-VPKAS Almora; DJ Rajkowa, A Pattanayak, ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
