Dr Ashwini Ananda, Scientist at AICRP on Vegetable Crops, Nagaland University, conducting a technical session during the training programme on advanced cultivation of cool-season vegetable crops at Tokugha Village, Niuland, on September 29.
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 29 (MExN): The AICRP on Vegetable Crops (AICRP-VC), School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, organised a training programme on advanced cultivation of cool-season vegetable crops under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) at Tokugha Village, Kuhuboto Block, Niuland, on September 29.
The programme included technical sessions on improved cultivation practices, women’s empowerment, household nutrition and conservation of traditional vegetable seeds.
Dr Ashwini Ananda, Scientist, AICRP on Vegetable Crops, Nagaland University, delivered the first technical session on advanced cultivation practices and conducted a hands-on demonstration. She also stressed the need to promote commercial vegetable cultivation in Nagaland, stating that the State has potential to increase local vegetable production and reduce dependence on supplies from neighbouring states.
Dr Ananda encouraged farmers to view vegetable cultivation as an income-generating enterprise in addition to its role in household nutrition. She emphasised the importance of meeting Nagaland’s vegetable demand through production within the State.
The second technical session was led by Dr Merensangla Longkumar, Assistant Professor, Department of RDP, School of Social Sciences, Nagaland University. She spoke on women’s empowerment and household nutrition through vegetable cultivation, highlighting the role of women in vegetable production and household food and nutritional security.
Dr Longkumar also encouraged the conservation and continued cultivation of traditional and locally adapted vegetable seeds, describing them as an ancestral asset and agricultural heritage that should be preserved and passed on to future generations.
The programme included farmers’ feedback and interaction, during which participants discussed field-level challenges and exchanged experiences with the resource persons. Agricultural inputs were subsequently distributed to the participating farmers.
The programme commenced with an invocation by Mlato Swu, ATM, Kuhuboto Block, Niuland, and a welcome address by Dr Ananda. It concluded with a vote of thanks by Akavi Holo, BTM, Kuhuboto Block, followed by photography and lunch.
