Farmers from Medziphema, Hekheshe and New Socüünoma villages during the training on ‘promotion of onion & garlic cultivation’ at SASRD, NU, Medziphema Campus on December 6. (Photo Courtesy: SASRD NU)
Farmers’ training at SASRD underscores importance of onion cultivation
Medziphema, December 9 (MExN): The wholesale price of onion in Nagaland is the highest in India, informed Dr Major Singh, Director ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune.
Dr Singh stated this while highlighting the importance and prospects of onion cultivation in Nagaland at the inaugural function of the farmers’ training on ‘promotion of onion & garlic cultivation’ at SASRD, NU, Medziphema Campus on December 6.
“This programme was initiated to help the local farmers to be self sufficient and also to generate income,” he added.
A press release from the SASRD NU stated that with the objective of promoting onion and garlic cultivation among tribal farmers, Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) on Onion and NEH Component for Onion & Garlic, SASRD, Nagaland University conducted the training.
The inaugural programme was chaired by Prof Akali Sema, Dean SASRD &Principle Investigator, TSP-Onion, and it was graced by Pro-Vice Chancellor (acting), SASRD, NU Prof RC Nayak.
After the inaugural function, Dr Vijay Mahajan, Principle Scientist and Nodal officer NEH Component for Onion & Garlic gave a presentation on promotion of onion cultivation in the technical session-I, while Dr A Sarkar, Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, SASRD, NU shared on guava cultivation in the second session.
As per the release, the training was attended by 80 farmer participants from Medziphema, Hekheshe village and New Socüünoma villages.
It was held with the aim to promote onion cultivation, which automatically would met the requirement of the local people as well as act as source of income generation the vegetable is not currently not taken up by many farmers in the state, it said.
In the discussion hour, farmers shared their problems which they are facing in cultivating onion and the subject experts provided helpful suggestions, it added.
The wrap up of the training was conducted by Dr Moakala Changkiri, CO-PI NEH Component (Onion & Garlic) where planting materials consisting of best performing four guava varieties, organic inputs like neem oil, bio-fertilizers and watering cane were also distributed to all the participants, the release said.
Apart from Dr Changkiri, Dr Aastik Jha, PI NEH Component (Onion & Garlic), Nagaland Centre and Yongkongtula STA AICRP (VC) co-ordinated the training.
