ZIRO, Mar 23: One day state level training cum demonstration program on Kiwi and Oranges was organized by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Yachuli in Hapoli, Lower Subansiri on Wednesday.
The program sponsored by National Horticulture Board, Gurgaon (Harayana) and AICRP (Fruits), IIHR Bengaluru was attended by progressive farmers from across the state.
Inaugurating the program, District training officer (FTC), G. Hocha, exhorted the farmers to utilize the opportunity to learn new methods to improve farming practices and productivity.
Later in the technical session, Dr. Pandey, Principal Scientist (Horticulture) & Head, Division of Crop Production, ICAR-CISH Lucknow dealt in length on Hi-tech production of Kiwi fruit and possibilities and prospect of subtropical and tropical fruit in Arunachal Pradesh.
During his presentation, he suggested for introduction of few more male and female varieties of Kiwi and introduction of more red and yellow fleshed Kiwi fruit cultivars along with suitable pollinizers compatible to local Kiwis at early stages.
He further emphasized on the need to introduce subtropical fruits like mango, guava along with oranges to diversify the foot hill area’s expansion program.
Another lecture was delivered by Dr. KK Srivastava, Principal Scientist (Horticulture), Lucknow based on his more than 14 years of research in Horticulture in J&K.
Terming the climatic conditions of few places in Jammu & Kashmir as similar to Ziro, Dr. Srivasatava advocated for the cultivation of apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot and nut fruit in Ziro.
The technical session was followed by an interaction session between the scientists and the farmers wherein issues pertaining to pollination, plant diseases and availability of quality planting materials were elaborately discussed.
Later farmers were given practical field demonstration pertaining to pruning and agro-techniques at kiwi orchard of Kodak Village, Lower Subansiri.
The programme was attended by Deputy Director, Agriculture Boria Nakum, OP Mounlang, DDM, NABARD, Dr. AN Tripathi, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK Yachuli and members of Kiwi Association of Lower Subansiri, scientists form KVK office and progressive farmers of different villages and regions.