Dimapur, Sep. 23 (EMN): One day training programme on ‘post harvest management in seed potato for extension functionaries’ was organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tuensang at KVK Instructional Farm on Sep. 22, focusing on imparting technical skills to extension functionaries.
The course in-charge of the programme, Tokiho Achumi, briefed the participants on the importance of quality seed production. He said seed is a basic input to increase crop yield per unit area and to improve agricultural economy of the farmers. Seed replacement capability of the farmers in the district is always decided by their economic and accessibility to planting materials, he added.
Achumi also informed that seed village programme is a positive initiative to bridge the gap, however maintaining the quality seed in the production process at farmers’ level requires intense technology support. Therefore, he said it is the responsibility of every technical field functionaries to provide all requisite production technologies at requisite level to the farmers which also includes post harvest technologies he said.
In the technical session, re-orientation of extension functionaries on seed potato production technologies and management of potato diseases with special reference to late blight disease were taught. The main session covered post harvest management in seed potato with hands-on demonstration on sorting, grading, seed treatment and storage of seed potato. The technical session concluded with discussion and interaction.
A short speech was also delivered by associate director of ECS, Chongshen Soted. All together 22 extension functionaries from NEIDA, Kiphire, CWWS, Phek nd ECS, Tuensang attended the training programme.