KVK EAST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) East Khasi Hills district and Agricultural Technological Management Agency ATMA , East Khasi Hills in collaboration with Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, organized a three days Kisan Mela cum training programme at Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board Farmer’s Market at Sanmer, Upper Shillong during 27th -29th January 2014. The theme of the mela was “Integrated Livelihood opportunities for small and marginal farmers”. The Kisan Mela which was organized with the objective to showcase the rich and diverse agri-horticultural products and livestock of East Khasi Hills district provided a good opportunity to demonstrate, exhibit technologies, diagnose and solve farmers’ problems, provide latest scientific information and marketing awareness of agricultural inputs and products.

During the three day mela, Central and State Government Departments, line agencies and banks participated in showcasing their activities and also interacting with the farmers regarding their problems and services provided by them. The members of various NGOs, SHGs, FIGs were provided with a platform to display their products and also to market them. Another service provided for the farmers of the district included “Free soil testing” in which atleast 500 individual samples from the district were tested and the reports distributed during the mela itself. In all, 1700 farmers from the 8 Blocks of East Khasi Hills were registered during the duration of the mela. In the training programme which was conducted on the various aspect of Potato cultivation, famers were benefitted by the updated knowledge and practical sessions provided by the resource persons from CPRS and KVK East Khasi Hills. The farmers were happy with the platform in which they could display their product and many remarked that such melas should be made an annual affair. Various prizes under different categories were also given to the farmers who exhibited their products ranging from vegetables, fruits, flowers among others. Two leaflets entitled “Ka rukom rep Motor” or “Package of practice of Pea” and “System of rice Intensification” published by the KVK East Khasi Hills were also released during the mela. A power tiller for custom hiring belonging to Iaijyrngam Cooperative Society, Mylliem was also release during the programme.

Shri. P.B.O Warjri, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary Government of Meghalaya inaugurated the Kisan Mela cum Training Programme on 27th January 2014 in a function held at State Biological Control Laboratory Upper Shillong, Meghalaya in the presence of Shri S.Goyal, IAS Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Smti. D. Syiemiong, Director of Agriculture Meghalaya and Dr. A.K. Gogoi, Zonal Project Director, ZPD Zone III, ICAR-RC-NEH. Apart from the senior officers from ICAR, State agriculture and allied departments and village heads and farmers from the various villages, Dr R J Rabindra, Dean, College of Post Graduate Studies, Barapani, Shri. N.S. Nongbri, Director MAMETI and Dr. N.K. Pandey, Head Division of Social Sciences, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla attended the function.