Sunflower oilseed cultivation training held at Chungtor village in Tuensang

DIMAPUR — A training and field demonstration on sunflower oilseed cultivation was conducted at Chungtor village, Longkhim, in Tuensang on Thursday.

According to an update, the programme was organised under the initiative of Dr. Bongliba Sangtam, coordinator of AgriNova Organic Farmers, with the aim to improve the livelihood of rural communities through sustainable oilseed cultivation and value addition.

The project was supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Medziphema, Nagaland, and the Indian Institute of Oil Research (IIOR), Hyderabad.

On behalf of the farmers, Dr. Sangtam expressed sincere gratitude to Dr. H Kalita, joint director, and Dr. Harendra Verma, scientist, ICAR-Medziphema, Nagaland, along with other colleagues, for visiting and providing hands-on guidance to the farmers.

He also conveyed gratitude to Prof. Mathur, director of the Indian Institute of Oil Research (IIOR), Hyderabad, and Dr. Qureshi, principal scientist, for providing sunflower oilseeds and for their continued support and guidance in making the project possible.

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He further thanked Ariba Anar, state coordinator, NERAMAC, Ministry of DoNER, for facilitating market linkages for future oilseed production.

During the session, Dr. Verma emphasised the importance of sunflower oilseed farming and multi-cropping to enhance rural income. He encouraged farmers to cultivate sunflower oilseeds immediately after rice harvest instead of leaving fields empty, to make full use of available land and improve livelihoods through cash crop farming like oilseeds.

He advised sowing in row-wise patterns, maintaining about one-foot spacing between rows for better yield and easier maintenance.

Dr. Verma further explained that well-decomposed pig or cow manure (one to two years old) can be used as an excellent organic fertiliser to enrich the soil and support healthy sunflower crop growth.

Dr. H Kalita, joint director of ICAR Medziphema, highlighted the importance of cultivating sunflowers between November and March, avoiding the monsoon period for optimal results. He encouraged farmers to work with sincerity and assured them of ICAR’s continued support.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Sangtam shared that the project is not only about introducing a new crop but also about empowering community-based farming systems through knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.