Dimapur, May 19 (EMN): In what could help increase paddy yield in Nagaland, a farmer-scientist interactive programme was held at Beisumpuikam village in Peren, on May 18.
Training on seed production technology of lowland paddy and seed village programme was organised by KVK Peren, Jalukie in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NER, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, informed an update on Tuesday.
Dr .Harendra Verma, scientist plant breeding and genetics at ICAR Jharnapani, imparted knowledge on production technology, including seed treatment, nursery and field preparation, line sowing, weeding, fertiliser application, nutrient management, rogueing and field monitoring for lowland paddy seed production to the participants.
Speaking on “seed village programme”, Dr. Patu K Zeliang, ACTO, plant breeding and genetics at KVK Peren, encouraged the farmers to organise seed production in cluster or compact area as well as replace existing local varieties with new high yielding varieties to meet local demand for timely supply at reasonable rate for self sufficiency and self reliance in the village.
The update went on to inform that “one quintal of rice variety RCM 9, a high yielding variety tolerant to blast with maximum potential yield of 8.2 t/ha developed from ICAR Manipur Centre was distributed to the selected twelve farmers including four women farmers for starting seed production”.
After the programme, a farmer-scientist interaction was also held, wherein queries on cultivation practices of various kharif crops like paddy, sesame, bajra maize etc. were discussed.