The ICAR-KVK West Garo Hills, in separate programmes, organised a field day on climate-resilient paddy and distributed poultry inputs for farmers.
The field day was conducted at Marapara village in Dalu block for 36 farmers from five villages. The event aimed to highlight the potential of the CR Dhan-805 variety of rice, specifically its potential in mitigating the challenges posed by climate change on rice cultivation.
Joyoshree Mahanta (CTO) led the event, providing valuable insights into the variety’s benefits, including its resistance to insect pests like brown plant hopper apart from other abiotic factors besides having potential yield of 5.5 tonnes per hectare.
Anindita Hajong, Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) of Dalu block, was the special guest during the event. The farmers are reportedly happy with the variety, citing its high yield, resilience in adverse conditions and overall robustness. Many expressed their eagerness to continue cultivating this variety in the coming years, which not only ensures food security but also system sustainability.
Meanwhile, the KVK organised an input distribution programme at its campus in Sangsanggre today under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), which is a strategy plan of the central government to develop tribal areas and populations in India.
Under the TSP fund, KVK West Garo Hills has benefitted more than 350 tribal farmers in West Garo Hills by implementing different technologies related to livestock and poultry farming for improved pig production, duck farming, backyard kuroiler and Vanaraja farming during the last five years.
Yesterday, kuroiler chicks, feed, drinkers, feeders, medicines, vitamins and azolla culture among 15 farmers. The programme was coordinated by Sagarika Borah, STO.
The genetic potential of local chickens reared by Garo farmers for eggs and meat production is very poor with annual egg production of 45-50 eggs only per hen and low body weight gain, resulting in lower incomes. Kuroiler and Vanaraja are the dual-purpose improved chicken breeds that give 115-130 eggs annually per hen with 2 to 2.5 kg weight gain at 5 months of age when raised in the backyard system. KVK West Garo Hills has popularised these two breeds under the TSP. This year, a total 68 farmers have benefited under the TSP plan.
