Capacity building training to Sikkim farmers

Gangtok,October13 : To disseminate the advanced technologies, ICAR Sikkim centre is on its way to strengthen the farmers of Sikkim by empowering them with knowledge and skill in the field of agriculture, horticulture and animal sciences. Besides hands on training and short training, ICAR has conducted three capacity building trainings of one week duration. First training was organized in view of less rainfall, focusing on conservation and proper utilization of rain water for efficient water utilization. In the training main focus was given on the technologies requiring less water for cultivation viz., SRI method of rice cultivation, drip irrigation, drainage, water storage technologies, irrigation and drainage requirement of major horticultural and agricultural crops. Two other trainings were conducted on Capacity Building for Farming Community of Sikkim from September 06 - 11th, and Oct. 06-11, 2009, financed by NABARD, Gangtok.The training was focused on advanced technologies with hands on experience. The farmers were exposed to advanced technologies through lecture in morning session followed by field visit of the same technology in afternoon session. The training was coordinated by course leader and Principal Scientist Dr. R. K. Avasthe along with training coordinators Dr H Kalita and Dr Ashok Kumar. Both the NABARD financed trainings were inaugurated by Mr. B. K. Dey, General Manager, NABARD, Gangtok, in presence of Dr H. Rahman, Jt. Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong.