A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: An awareness meeting on strengthening seed system and production technology of rice was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Lakhimpur on Wednesday under the aegis of Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) in collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
The meeting was held among 40 farmers of different villages and blocks under Lakhimpur district. The main objective of the meeting was to make the farmers aware about different stress-tolerant rice varieties and their characteristics like Ranjit Sub-1, Bahadur Sub-1, Swarna Sub-1 and Bina dhan 11. Effort was made to create awareness among the farmers regarding use of modern technologies and machineries for scientific production of rice and their advantages. In connection with the programme, a talk on quality seed production techniques of rice and importance of strengthening seed system for better production was also given by Dr. Rahul Priyadarshi, scientist from IRRI.
Lakhi Kanta Nath, Subject Matter Specialist (Agronomy) of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lakhimpur, welcomed the farmers during the meeting and explained the objectives of the programme while delivering the inaugural speech. He also discussed about the different methods and techniques of rice cultivation and their advantages as a whole. Senior Scientist and Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lakhimpur, Dr. Bhabesh Chandra Deka delivered his speech on importance of production of quality seeds for improved rice cultivation and he encouraged the farmers to adopt different techniques of rice production like preparation of MAT nursery and thereby transplanting of seedlings by using mechanical transplanter. He also made farmers aware about direct seeded rice cultivation using machineries.