Technology Week 2009 @ ICAR,Gangtok

Gangtok,Nov24 : Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Ranipool, has organized Technology Week 2009, on the theme “Farmers’ empowerment and livelihood improvement through technology based support” at Ranipool, from November 23 to 29.
The inaugural programme of the Technology Week 2009 on November 23 started in the morning with felicitation of Chief Guest Mr. Bhim Dungel, Mininster for Forest, Environment, Science & Technology, Govt. of Sikkim, and other dignitaries. The Chief Guest inaugurated the programme by lightening lamp. Dr. H. Rahman, Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre, in his welcome address highlighted the activities of ICAR and the agenda for Technology Week by the KVK.
Sustainable livelihood in hills could be achieved by focusing on the improvement of livelihood option of household and harnessing local mountain resources which are compatible with the mountainous agro-climatic condition. Though more than 65 per cent of the total population of the state depends entirely on agriculture, rarely they generate surplus income after meeting their daily requirements. Improved farm technologies are hardly reached to the farming community. Due to non availability of suitable local resource based technology, most of the farmers are still practising the traditional farming methods, thereby putting their livelihood condition at stake.
The Technology week aims to provide awareness among the farming community of the East Sikkim through Crop Seminar followed by farmer-scientist interaction to provide a common platform where farmers get the opportunity to share their experiences, express their problems and get instant solutions in consultation with researchers, developmental experts, implementing agencies (state line departments), bankers, marketing agencies, cooperatives and other stakeholders.
A quiz competition was held on the day for the farmers to get exposed and clarified on some of the common questions related to various fields. The winners were awarded with inputs/ demonstration kits sponsored by different organizations along with certificates, it is informed.
An agricultural exhibition is arranged by different organizations to showcase the various activities, which provide an opportunity to the farmers to enrich their knowledge through varied exposure to different modern technologies/products in the field of agriculture and allied fields relevant to agro-ecological situation of the region.
More than 150 farmers from different villages of East Sikkim district are participating in the programme who are selected from the village level SHG/ Farmers’ Club / Farmers’ Interest Group (FIG) of the district. (With KVK input)
On the occasion, Chief Guest and other dignitaries released the 1st edition of KVK Newsletter, eight number of technical folders and one Technology Bulletin under Technology Mission-I in the cause of the farming communities as well as other stakeholders. Chief Guest also distributed technology kits to selected farmers, inaugurated the farmers exhibition and visited stalls in the exhibition, the release informed.

Sikkim governor urges ICAR on agriculture research for north-east region

Gangtok , Oct 23 Sikkim governor B P Singh today urged the scientists of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) to research and develop high-yielding farm produces to meet the growing food requirement.
" Food security has become a major issue with a number of developing countries facing food shortages,"he said while inaugurating 19th Regional Committee Meeting of ICAR for north eastern region at Chintan Bhawan.

He said there was a need for scientific guidance to the farmers to enhance the yield of farm produces with greater use of technology.

Governor urged ICAR to take up research and development of farm technology to suit the requirement of the hilly farmland and improve the production of livestock and horticulture produces.

ICAR gives Capacity building training to Sikkim farmers

Gangtok,October13 : To disseminate the advanced technologies, ICAR Sikkim centre is on its way to strengthen the farmers of Sikkim by empowering them with knowledge and skill in the field of agriculture, horticulture and animal sciences. Besides hands on training and short training, ICAR has conducted three capacity building trainings of one week duration.
First training was organized in view of less rainfall, focusing on conservation and proper utilization of rain water for efficient water utilization. In the training main focus was given on the technologies requiring less water for cultivation viz., SRI method of rice cultivation, drip irrigation, drainage, water storage technologies, irrigation and drainage requirement of major horticultural and agricultural crops. Two other trainings were conducted on Capacity Building for Farming Community of Sikkim from September 06 - 11th, and Oct. 06-11, 2009, financed by NABARD, Gangtok.The training was focused on advanced technologies with hands on experience. The farmers were exposed to advanced technologies through lecture in morning session followed by field visit of the same technology in afternoon session. The training was coordinated by course leader and Principal Scientist Dr. R. K. Avasthe along with training coordinators Dr H Kalita and Dr Ashok Kumar. Both the NABARD financed trainings were inaugurated by Mr. B. K. Dey, General Manager, NABARD, Gangtok, in presence of Dr H. Rahman, Jt. Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong.

ICAR Workshop on Big Cardamom

Gangtok,October08: A day long DBT Interactive Workshop on “Management of pest and diseases of Large cardamom in North-East Region using potential bio-pesticides and Biotechnological approaches” was organized by ICAR, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok on 5th October.
The workshop aimed to address the problems of large cardamom cultivation in the region was inaugurated by Prof. S. N. Puri, Vice Chancellor, Central Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal, Manipur. Dr. Seema Wahab, Advisor, DBT, New Delhi, Dr. Opendra Koul, Director, IBRC, Jalandhar, Punjab and Shri. M L Arrawatia, Secretary, DST, Govt. of Sikkim, attended along with the scientists of ICAR, Indian Cardamom Research Institute and DBT, New Delhi and State officials.
Dr. H. Rahman, Joint Director, ICAR, welcomed the dignitaries and delegates and expressed his gratitude for giving ICAR an opportunity to conduct Workshop on the most pertinent issues. He expressed his concerned over the recession of production in Large Cardamom that pushed India to second position from leading producer. The decline in production may be attributed to the occurrence of diseases, poor management, poor pollination and climate change, he added. He said that the farming practices, inaccessibility of field and negligence further aggravate the decline syndrome.
Dr. Seema Wahab in her address put emphasis on the application of biotechnology in production of elite and disease-free planting materials. She told that DBT is always ready to finance need based research project that could bring viable technology for famers. She felt the need of a network project on Large Cardamom covering important aspects of production technology.
Dr. Opender Koul, Director, Insect Biopesticides Research Centre, Jalandhar, expressed spoke about the efficacy of bio-pesticides in managing pests and viral and fungal diseases. Bio-pesticides will only be effective, if they are used in right perspective, he added. He further emphasized the need of exploitation of bio-products, as these products are themselves library of chemicals.
Dr. M. L. Arrawatia, Secretary, DST, Govt. of Sikkim, emphasized the need of participatory approach in addressing the problems of large cardamom including value addition as it is one of the major sources of livelihood of farming community of Sikkim. He told that the Govt. of Sikkim was highly concerned about the decrease in the production and area of large cardamom, although state is taking up many measures.
Prof. Puri, Vice Chancellor, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, expressed his dissent over the reduction in India’s share (32%) in world large cardamom production.

SU microbiology students visit ICAR

Gangtok: The ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre on Saturday organized an exposure visit for the students of Sikkim University. A team of four faculty members and seventeen students of Microbiology department of the University visited the ICAR.
Wlcoming the guests, Dr. H. Rahman, Joint Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, upheld the significant role played by ICAR in the days when the country was facing acute food shortage. With the initiation of the Government of India in modernising agriculture and sincere effort made by scientists for the development of high yielding varieties of crops and animals generated national movement for food production.
He said that present food production has increasedto about 238 million tonnes from merely 50 millions in 1950s. Dr Rahman also mentioned that the productivity of almost all crops has reached a plateau, thus crop diversification and scientific technologies have to be adopted to maintain sustainability in food security. He briefed about the importance of Microbiology as a subject and its prospects in the present day of threats with trans-boundary diseases like swine flu, bird flu, etc. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre is the oldest Institute working on various aspects of agricultural, horticultural and animal husbandry, he informed. Recently, ICAR has established DNA finger printing, ELISA, other Biotechnology, Microbiology and Plant Pathology laboratory, he added.
Later, the students and faculties visited the different laboratories and the concerned scientists of each division highlighted and showed the research works underway in the institute. The students were interested to know and see the working of the ELISA and PCR laboratories