DDG (NRM) visits NICRA Village Rasidpur in district Ropar, Punjab

Dr. A.K. Sikka, DDG (NRM), ICAR visited NICRA village, Rasidpur under KVK, Ropar on January 11, 2014. NICRA activities were explained through an exhibition arranged at the Farmers service center in the village. Dr. Sikka interacted with about 70 progressive farmers and members of the Village Risk Management Committee (VCRMC). Farmers expressed that mechanization through the custom hiring center setup in the village is quite useful in adopting climate resilient practices and technologies as 90% of farmers are small and marginal.

Dr. Sikka addressed the farmers gathering and emphasized the need for a special thrust on agroforestry keeping in view its suitability for this area and excellent mitigation potential for tackling climate issues. Further, he emphasized on training the farmers on Poplar based agroforestry systems. The National Research Center on Agroforestry (NRCAF), Jhansi will impart the training to the farmers in the NICRA village. Dr. A.M. Narula, Zonal Project Director, Zone-I shared the experience of resource conservation technologies and advised farmers to adopt improved practices and technologies like direct drilling of wheat with Happy seeder, other zero till techniques, micro irrigation systems and protected vegetable cultivation.

Dr. Sikka visited the  technology demonstrations in farmers' fields. Direct drilling of wheat in standing paddy stubbles with Happy seeder to avoid burning of paddy straw which is a customary practice in the village was taken up by Mr. Ravinder Singh. The farmer is convinced of the many benefits of this resource conservation technology and is planning to increase the area in the following year. Dr. Sikka explained that timely sown wheat can escape terminal heat stress generally faced by the crop sown after land preparation.  DDG visited the demonstration of a newly introduced clone of Poplar (PL-5). Dr. Sikka advised development of model nurseries of best Poplar clones for wide dissemination of poplar based agroforestry

system in this area. Another farmer, Mr. Gurudit Singh, adopted sprinkler irrigation system in wheat and saw the immediate benefit of saving limited water as he gave his crop only six hours of micro irrigation till date whereas his neighboring farmer gave two flood irrigations. DDG expressed that micro irrigation has emerged as a tool for effective management of resources which save water, fertilizer as well as energy and distribute water evenly unlike other irrigation systems.

Dr. A.M. Narula, Zonal Project Director (Zone-1) and  Dr. A.K. Tiwari, Head, CSWCRTI, Chandigarh accompanied the DDG. Dr. Harinder Singh, Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ropar facilitated the visit. The presence of DDG at the demonstration sites in Rasidpur village of Ropar, Punjab inspired the entire NICRA team, both farmers and KVK scientists.