A day-long training programme on ‘ICAR–IIHRs Interventions for Unleashing Horticulture Potential in NEH Region’ was organised by KVK Ri-Bhoi in collaboration with ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru today.
The programme was attended by 31 farmers from Thadnongiaw, Liarkhlah and Mawbri villages of Ri-Bhoi.
The farmers were told about the importance of advanced Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) technologies to improve their livelihoods, especially for vegetables, citrus, honeybee and banana.
K Madhavi Reddy, Principal Scientist (Vegetable Science), IIHR, briefed the farming communities about various hybrid, improved and high yielding varieties of vegetables that fetch high market prices released by IIHR that are suitable for the North East hill region.
Naresh D, Scientist at IIHR, trained the farmers and interacted with them on various advanced polyhouse technology for growing vegetable crops suitable for hilly low altitude areas for higher returns.
Jayanti Mala, Senior Scientist Entomology, IIHR, spoke on the use of bio-organics and biopesticides released by IIHR and scientific beekeeping methods.
Atheequlla GA, Scientist, Agril Extension and Coordinator of NEH programme, IIHR, highlighted new products and formulations for various fruit crops and vegetables that are farmer-friendly and suitable for this region to improve productivity. He further requested the group to take up new crops and varieties from IIHR for upliftment of their economy.
This was followed by distribution of IIHR inputs, such as vegetable seeds, biofertilisers and biopesticides, including micronutrient formulations of vegetable special, banana special and citrus special for the farmers.