Shillong, Jul 25: A three-day training programme on ‘Building sustainable livelihood through Integrated Farming System in Hill ecosystem’ concluded today.
The programme was jointly organized by ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam and funded by the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (MSRLS) under the Farm Livelihoods component of DAY- NRLM. The training brought together 32 participants consisting of SHG members, MSRLS functionaries, Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and progressive farmers from different districts of Meghalaya.
Speaking at the inaugural programme, BP Singh, Head of DTAC at ICAR RC for NEH Region, encouraged the all women participants to take a proactive action in learning the scientific principles behind Integrated Farming System to disseminate it effectively to the farmers. Shanlang F Lyngdoh, Chief Operating Officer, Livelihood Promotions, MSRLS, expressed how the Integrated Farming System, which is a multi-income earning avenue, is most suitable for livelihood promotion of tribal farmers. The mission is to touch 5 lakh households who are part of 52,000 SHGs in Meghalaya through capacity building interventions, which can be implemented by a strong collaboration between ICAR and the state functionaries.
The technical sessions of the training programme consisted of all the critical components of IFS including crops, livestock, fishery, horticulture, agroforerstry, soil management, insect pest management and subsidiary enterprises such as mushroom cultivation implemented through interactive classroom lectures and demonstrative field visits. It was aimed to equip the participants with technical knowledge on management of multiple agri-enterprises on the farm for income and nutritional security.
