Commercial vegetable cultivation using varieties developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (ICAR-IIHR) has been launched in Nabarangpur district of Odisha for Rabi 2020. The intervention is being implemented by Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar, at four blocks (Kosagumuda, Jharigaon, Nabarangpur and Papdahandi blocks) through a unique RKVY(S&T) initiative ‘Farm based S&T Interventions for Socio-economic Development in the Aspirational District of Nabarangpur, Odisha’ to create new horticulture based avenues for socio-economic development of tribal-dominated Nabarangpur district. This RashtriyaKrushiVikasYojana(RKVY) venture, being implemented by 12 national level science and technology institutions, under the guidance of the district administration, aims at creating farm based economic avenues for enhancing of income of the rural and tribal farmers of the district.
The 'commercial vegetable cultivation' intervention for rabi 2020 was formally launched, on 20th October 2020, by Deputy Director of Horticulture, Nabarangpur, DrPradosh Kumar Panda along with Principal Scientist Dr P Srinivas, and Pravat Kumar, team leader, Harsha trust at Dongarigudavillage of Kosagumudablock by distributing Arka vegetable seed packets toselect project beneficiaries.
Four training programmes were organized for the beneficiaries of different villages of Kosagumuda, Jharigaon and Papdahandi blocks under Nabarangpur district,during 20-21 October, 2020. The team led by Principal Scientist Dr. P. Srinivasimparted training on the basic tenets of potential and commercial cultivation methodologies for various ICAR-IIHR vegetables varieties provided to them. The participants were given hands-on training on techniques like cocopeat media preparation, filling of portrays, and sowing of seeds of Tomato and chillis. The SHG members would be shouldering the responsibility to manage the nursery activities to raise seedlings of Tomato and chilli. On field training on soil bed preparation, mulching, field layout, etc. was also imparted at different villages. In all more than 160 beneficiaries from around 12 villages were covered in these trainings at four locations.
While addressing the beneficiaries during the trainings, DDH DrPradoshPanda stressed on increasing production per unit land holding through introduction of high yielding varieties. He also assured of dove-tailing various ongoing government schemes with horticulture-based RKVY-S&T interventions for eligible beneficiaries.
Dr P. Srinivas, Principal Scientist of CHES (ICAR-IIHR) interacted with the office bearers and members of MaaMahima Self Help Group and monitored the progress of work on establishment of peripheral infrastructure of the high-tech nursery and development of mother blocks. The Hi-tech nursery built under RKVY-S&T project at Govindalaya will serve as Production-cum-Distribution-cum-Sale centre for quality planting material of high yielding fruits, vegetable and flower crops developed by ICAR-IIHR through Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES), Bhubaneswar for the benefit of the farmers of Nabarangpur and adjoining districts.
All norms of social distancing, hand sanitizing and wearing of masks was ensured during the all the programmes.
