With the onset of agricultural activities in the district, the District AgroMet Unit (DAMU) of Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Mokokchung, conducted a one-day farmers’ awareness programme on January 30 in Anaki Old Village under Tuli block.
An update from KVK Mokokchung stated that the day-long programme on “Application of agromet advisory services and contingency plan on agricultural production” was spearheaded by Dr. Keviletsu Khate, senior scientist and head of KVK Mokokchung; Khekali Sema, ACTO (horticulture); Martha Chakruno, ACTO (plant protection); and Ningshiyangerla Walling, SMS (agrometeorology); as the resource persons.
It stated that the resource persons have encouraged the participants to strategically plan their farming activities to boost their agricultural production.
They have covered the basic fulfillment and avenues for crops and livestock production, plant protection measures amid the changing weather patterns, identification of some prevalent diseases and pests in the village with its management aspects. Besides, they spoke on harnessing favorable weather for value addition of location specific seasonal crops, packaging, branding and licensing of value added products for scaling up, emphasis on high value vegetable crops, deliberation of weather forecast parameters, better management of weather and climate risk in agriculture using AgroMet Advisory Services (AAS) rendered through various platforms with WhatsApp as the fastest mode to reach the users.
It was followed with demonstration on preparation of Bordeaux mixture, extension of teaching aids like folders ‘MEGHDOOT,’ a mobile app to assist farmers for weather based farm management, and IMD-Agro AWS. Further, leaflets, Kisan Mobile Advisory Services (KMAS) and AgroMet advisory bulletin and a YouTube video by KVK Mokokchung were shared to add value to the deliberations.
It informed that a total of 38 farmers attended the programme.