Peren, November 1 (MExN): A ‘Field day on lowland paddy RCM-9’ was organized at Beisumpuikam village of Peren district on October 26 by ICAR Nagaland Centre, Medziphema in collaboration with KVK, Peren, to show the performance of RC Maniphou-7 (RCM-9) variety in Peren district for grain and participatory rice seed production in Nagaland.
A press release from ICAR, Nagaland Center Joint Director, ICAR Nagaland Centre on Friday stated that quality and healthy seeds are the most important, basic and critical input for realizing the potentiality of a crop. In Nagaland, quality planting materials are not available in required quantity to meet the quality seed demand on time, the release underscored, adding that seed replacement ratio is below 15% in the state. This, it said, is very low, mainly due to reliance on informal seed system with traditional rice.
Rice productivity of Nagaland is low with about 2.3 t/ha as compared to national average of 2.7 tonnes/hectares due to use of heighted traditional low yielding landraces and use of impure seeds of old HYVs and low application of compost and fertilizers, it said. Therefore, by increasing the availability of quality seed material of HYVs on time and full package of practice of crops will increase the production and productivity of the state to achieve self-sustenance in production of various crops.
Dr Patu khate Zeliang, SMS, Plant Breeding and Genetics, KVK, Peren welcomed the farmers and congratulated them for their hard work. She also advised and encouraged the farmers to take up the RC Maniphou-7 rice variety for quality seed production in order to meet local seed demand.
Dr Harendra Verma, Scientist, Plant Breeding and Genetics, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Medziphema highlighted the importance of quality seed material and also stressed upon use of medium duration HYVs of rice RC Maniphou-7 (RCM-9) to utilize the residual moisture and to enhance the cropping intensity by cultivation of toria and field pea in their fields during rabi season, the release stated. As RC Maniphou-7 is medium duration variety (125-130 days) so that farmers can harvest it by end of October and in rabi season farmers can be easily taken up various crops such as toria, pea, linseed, any vegetables crops etc. to enhance the cropping intensity and finally farm income which helps in enhancing the livelihood of farming community, it added.
Three progressive farmer of Beisumpuikam village gave a brief feedback on the performance of RC Maniphou-7 rice variety. Farmers were very happy after seeing the performance of RC Maniphou-7 variety in fields and were ready to cultivate in future also for grain as well as seed purpose, it said.
A farmer- scientist interaction was also conducted in which queries related to cultivation practices, pest and nutrient management of rice, toria and field pea, linseed were discussed. A total of 40 farmers participated in the programme, the release stated.
