Participants with officials during the field day cum farmers’-scientist interaction programme on participatory rice seed production’ organized at Beisumpuikam village of Peren district on November 2.
Field day cum farmers’-scientist interaction programme held in Beisumpuikam village
Peren, November 4 (MExN): A ‘field day cum farmers’-scientist interaction programme on participatory rice seed production’ was organized at Beisumpuikam village of Peren district on November 2 by ICAR Nagaland Centre, Medziphema and KVK, Peren to show the performance of RCM-9 and RCM-13 variety in rice seed production fields and scope of participatory rice seed production in Nagaland.
A press release from Joint Director, ICAR Nagaland Centre stated that quality planting material is the most important and critical input for successful agriculture. In the state quality planting martial is not available on time to meet out the quality seed demand. Seed replacement ratio is below 15% in the state, which is very low, mainly due to reliance on informal seed system with traditional rice. Rice productivity of Nagaland is very low with a tune of 1.6 tonnes/hectare (GOI, 2018) as compared to national average of 2.7 tonnes/hectare due to use of traditional low yielding landraces and use of impure seeds of old HYVs.
“Therefore, by increasing the availability of quality seed material of HYVs on time will increase the production and productivity of the state to achieve self-sustenance in rice production,” he added.
Dr Harendra Verma, scientist, Plant Breeding and Genetics, ICAR Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani discussed the future prospects and know-how on participatory rice seed production. He advised and encouraged the farmers to take up quality seed production to meet local seed demand timely. He also advised grow High yielding and short duration variety such as RCM-9, which is medium duration variety (125-130 days) so that farmers can harvest it by end of October and in rabi season farmers can easily taken-up various crops such as Toria, mustard, pea, linseed, any vegetables crops etc. by utilizing the residual moisture present in soil to enhance the farm income.
Dr Patu K Zeliang ACTO, PBG KVK Peren also emphasized on use of early and medium duration HYVs of rice (RCM-9). She also advised the farmers to cultivate Oils seed crops such as Toria, Sesame, Mustard and Pulses like Green gram, Ricebean etc under different cropping systems so as to get multiple incomes from different crops.
A progressive farmer of Beisumpuikam village gave a brief feedback on the performance of RCM-9 rice variety and reported that he harvested the yield of 5-6 tonnes/hectare from RCM-9 HYV. Further he added that RCM-13 variety was best for eating and cooking quality. Farmers were very happy after seeing the performance of RCM-9 variety in fields and were ready to cultivate in future also.
At the end of programme seed of improved Toria variety “TS-67” was distributed to the 40 farmers of Beisumpuikam and Jalukiekam village for Toria seed production.
A farmer- scientist interaction was also conducted in which queries related to pest and nutrient management and post-harvest management of rice and Toria was discussed. A total of 38 farmers participated in the programme.
On the same day training on Production Technology of Oilseeds and Pulses under Diversified cropping systems was conducted by resource persons Dr Patu K Zeliang ACTO, PBG KVK Peren and Dr Harendra Verma Scientist PBG, ICAR, Nagaland Centre suggesting the farmers how they can cultivate Oils Seeds crops such as Toria, Sesame, Mustard and Pulses like Greengram, Ricebean etc. under different cropping systems so as to get multiple incomes from different crops utilizing high yielding and short duration crops.
