NAMSAI, Feb 18: Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), T Mohapatra, visited the Namsai Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and reviewed the ongoing activities of the kendra on Monday.
Accompanied by Delhi-based IR Assistant Director General A Arunachalam, Mohapatra visited the instructional farm, the soil testing laboratory, the animal health clinic, the demonstration units, and the skill development facilities created by the KVK.
KVK Head Dr Manish Kanwat gave a brief account of the significant achievements and different ongoing activities of the KVK. They discussed various issues in different areas, including collection, preservation and multiplication of locally available germplasm through the NBPGR.
The meeting also stressed the need for establishing a ‘crop cafeteria’ for showcasing technologies to the farmers.
Mohapatra called for greater efforts for developing farmer-friendly techniques, and for focusing on farmers-centric research. He suggested conducting soil mapping of Namsai district, issuing farmers’ digital cards, and dissemination of agriculture technologies on farmers’ mobile phones.
The ICAR RC’s Basar centre’s Joint Director, Dr H Kalita, gave an overview of the mandate, achievements and vision of the KVK.
Arunachalam stressed on establishing an agroforestry block and the need to motivate farmers to take up bio-fencing or green fencing around their fields to ensure environmental safeguards.
