ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Vittal, organized a Field Day on ‘Arecanut based multi species cropping system’sponsored by Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Calicut, at Shri. Yashodhara Gowda’s Garden, Koddolu House, Ujire Village, Guripalla Post, BelthangadyTaluk, Dakshina Kannada Dt., on 28.02.2022. The event was witnessed more than 130 participants.

The programme was started with beautiful prayer song, later Dr. N. R. Nagaraja, Scientist-SS, ICAR-CPCRI Regional Station Vittal and the convener of the programme welcomed all the guests and farmer participants to the programme and briefed the gathering about the field day.

The Field Day was inaugurated by Shri. Annappa Gowda, Progressive Farmer, Guripalla. During his inaugural address he highlighted the importance of agriculture,difficulties faced by farmers in agriculture and motivated the farmers to adopt multi-species cropping system by explaining its advantages over monocropping.

Shri. Prasad Kumar, President, Pragathi Bandhu Okkuta, addressed the gathering about the importance of this programme and he appealed the scientists to conduct such type of programmes more.

Shri.Jayakara Shetty, Taluk Planning Officer, Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), Belthangady Taluk, shared the importance of conducting Field Days.

Shri.Abhinandan, Progressive Dairy Farmer, explained the importance of multi cropping and mixed farming, its role in ensuring livelihood security during adverse conditions. He motivated the young generations towards Farming.

The Presidential Address was delivered by Shri. Lakshmana GowdaIrthilal, Former President, Bangady Cooperative Agricultural Bank.He briefed the farmers about the service rendered by ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Vittal, viz., Field Advisory Visits by Scientists, production and distribution of quality planting materials of arecanut and cocoa to farmers and stressed the importance of participation of young generations in Agriculture.

Immediately after the brief inaugural session,all the participants, scientists, resource persons visited demonstration plot on arecanut based multispecies cropping system established by ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Vittal at Shri.Yashodhara Gowda’s garden, with the fundingfrom DASD, Calicut.In the demo plot,Shri.Yashodhara Gowda shared his journey of establishing‘Arecanut based multi species cropping system’ in his arecanut garden with the help of ICAR-CPCRI, Regional station, Vittal and he explainedthe benefits of the multi cropping system, the advantage of multicropping system over monocropping by sharing his own experience.

Later technical session was started. Dr. N. R. Nagaraja, Scientist- SS, ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Vittal, delivered lectures on improved varieties and hybrids of arecanut, quality planting material production, recent advances in arecanut production technologies and also arecanut based multispecies cropping system. Dr. Rajkumar, Scientist-SS, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, apprised the farmers about the advances in pest management, recent chemicals/bio-control agents for effective pestscontrol. Dr. V. H. Prathibha, Scientist-SS, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, briefed the farmers about theimportant diseases of arecanut, black pepper and their management and simultaneously responded to farmers queries on crop protection aspects.Dr.M. Chaithra, Scientist, ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Vittal,demonstrated the Bordeaux mixture preparation and served as resource person in the Farmer-Scientist interactive session.

Following the interactive sessions, a quiz programme was conducted for the farmer participants. The programme came to an end with distribution of attractive prizes to the winning teams. A small exhibition with display charts on varieties/ hybrids, quality planting materials production, production technologies, arecanut based cropping system, integrated pests and diseases management etc. was also arranged for giving first-hand information to the participants.The farmers expressed their happiness about the programme and requested ICAR-CPCRI and DASD, Calicut, to conduct more and more of such programmes in coming days also.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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