TAWANG, Aug 28: With a view to strengthen technology dissemination, enhance millet productivity and encourage the wider adoption and horizontal spread of improved finger millet varieties and technologies in the North-Eastern Hill Region, ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (ICAR-VPKAS), Almora in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tawang organised a series of finger millet field days, farmer–scientist interactions, frontline demonstrations and demonstrations of the Vivek Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler at different villages of Tawang district from August 17 to 26 under the ICAR-VPKAS NEH Programme.
The programme was aimed at strengthening the dissemination of improved finger millet production technologies and promoting their wider adoption among farmers. Scientists and KVK personnel interacted extensively with farmers on improved cultivation practices, varietal performance, seed production and exchange, crop management, harvesting and post-harvest management.
The interactions also provided a platform for farmers to share their experiences, cultivation challenges and preferences. Particular attention was given to the performance of VL Mandua 376, which farmers found promising in comparison with their traditional local cultivars.
The programme commenced on August17 at Kyidphel, where a Farmer–Scientist Interaction was held with 23 farmers, while it ended on August 26 with a Farmer–Scientist Interaction organised at Ruikhar, Kyidphel, with 12 farmers, and a frontline demonstration on finger millet was conducted at Shernub village.
Across the different locations, VL Mandua 376 demonstrated encouraging performance under farmers' field conditions, exhibiting good crop growth, effective tillering, well-filled panicles and bold grains. One of its major advantages is its shorter crop duration, with the variety maturing approximately 25–35 days earlier than local cultivars while providing higher grain yield.
The early-maturing characteristic is particularly beneficial to farmers in Tawang, as it reduces the period during which standing crops need to be guarded against wild animals, thereby helping save considerable time and labour.
The Vivek Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler also generated keen interest among participating farmers. Its potential to reduce the labour and drudgery traditionally associated with millet threshing and processing was highlighted during the field demonstrations.
The field-level interactions enabled farmers to directly observe the performance of improved technologies and discuss their experiences with agricultural scientists. At the same time, the programme helped scientists gain valuable insights into farmers’ production constraints, local cultivation practices and technology requirements.
The programme was coordinated by Dr Kamini Bisht, Dr C K Singh, Dr R P Meena and Dr M S Bhinda. (DIPRO)