A training programme was held in Dharwad to help farmers understand the latest technologies in chilli cultivation. The programme, which discussed the effective methods of cost-cutting and profitable cultivation, was organized by Krishi Vijnana Kendra (KVK) in collaboration with the Directorate of Arecanut and Spice, Kozhikode, Kerala and the ministry of agriculture. The session was led by Umesh Mirji, project coordinator and deputy director, centre of excellence (vegetables).
In the keynote speech, Mirji urged the farmers to be in touch with Spice Development Board and other agencies regularly to understand the latest technologies in cultivation. "Practical training is being given to farmers on growing different kinds of crops. Currently, healthy chilli seedlings are available which are grown without soil media. These are developed in sterilized conditions using coco peat. It costs Re 1 per seedling. Efforts are also being taken to collaborate with the Spice Development Board, Navanagar, Hubballi, so that seedling costs can be cut down further," he said. Training on different types of structures for high-tech horticulture is also given to the farmers based on their economic condition, Mirji added.
K V Natikar, associate director of extension, UAS, Dharwad, in his presidential address, said his department is playing a major role in transferring the new technologies to the farmers.
"Different activities like training, demonstration, field visits, campaigns, exhibitions etc are being carried out for the efficient transfer of technologies from university to the farming community," he said. Natikar also spoke about the effect of climate change on agriculture in the recent past.
Experts N B Gadagimath, Anuraj, Dr R V Hegde, Ramesh Babu, J B Gopali, Ramesh Bhat, B C Kamanna, B M Radder and Sripad Kulkarni trained the farmers on new technologies. Different aspects of chilli production, protection, post-harvest technologies, organic cultivation, seed production and role of biotechnology in the development of plant varieties were also discussed in the training programme. S M Mantur, senior scientist and head, KVK, Dharwad, also spoke. More than 100 farmers participated in the programme. A field visit was arranged to vegetable demonstration block at high-tech horticulture unit of UAS, Dharwad, where more than 12 exotic and native vegetables are being grown using drip irrigation and mulching technologies.
In the keynote speech, Mirji urged the farmers to be in touch with Spice Development Board and other agencies regularly to understand the latest technologies in cultivation. "Practical training is being given to farmers on growing different kinds of crops. Currently, healthy chilli seedlings are available which are grown without soil media. These are developed in sterilized conditions using coco peat. It costs Re 1 per seedling. Efforts are also being taken to collaborate with the Spice Development Board, Navanagar, Hubballi, so that seedling costs can be cut down further," he said. Training on different types of structures for high-tech horticulture is also given to the farmers based on their economic condition, Mirji added.
K V Natikar, associate director of extension, UAS, Dharwad, in his presidential address, said his department is playing a major role in transferring the new technologies to the farmers.
"Different activities like training, demonstration, field visits, campaigns, exhibitions etc are being carried out for the efficient transfer of technologies from university to the farming community," he said. Natikar also spoke about the effect of climate change on agriculture in the recent past.
Experts N B Gadagimath, Anuraj, Dr R V Hegde, Ramesh Babu, J B Gopali, Ramesh Bhat, B C Kamanna, B M Radder and Sripad Kulkarni trained the farmers on new technologies. Different aspects of chilli production, protection, post-harvest technologies, organic cultivation, seed production and role of biotechnology in the development of plant varieties were also discussed in the training programme. S M Mantur, senior scientist and head, KVK, Dharwad, also spoke. More than 100 farmers participated in the programme. A field visit was arranged to vegetable demonstration block at high-tech horticulture unit of UAS, Dharwad, where more than 12 exotic and native vegetables are being grown using drip irrigation and mulching technologies.