Training on coconut cultivation

Roing, March 12: A state level seminar on ‘Aspects and Prospects of Coconut Production and Value Addition’ and an orientation programme on ‘Innovation In Scientific Coconut Cultivation and Value Addition Among Departmental Official’ was held at Roing, Lower Dibang Valley. The programme was sponsored by Coconut Development Board (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India) Regional Office, Guwahati and organised in Collaboration with Department of Horticulture, Lower Dibang Valley District.

About 300 coconut farmers from LDV and neighbouring districts participated in the seminar. The participants visited selected and identified Coconut Gardens as well as Govt. Citrus Nursery, Balek.

DC Soumya Saurabh urged the Coconut Development Board, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Horticulture Department to guide and provide technical know how to the potential coconut growers of the district. I am excited to see the farmers participation and advise the farmers to take up coconut cultivation, she added.

Gebom Angu (Joint Director, Horticulture) and Dr. Sarat Saikia (Principal Scientist, AAU,HRS) also addressed the participants.

In his key note address Dr.Rajat Kumar Pal (Director, Coconut Development Board) informed that Coconut Palm is referred to as ‘Kalpaviksha- the tree of heaven’ and expressed the importance and scope of coconut cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh specially at the Lower altitude area and emphasized for its commercial cultivation.

DHO Kuru Ama emphasized on the theme ‘Learning by Doing’ and ‘Seeing is Believing’ and advised all to gather knowledge delivered by the scientists and resource persons.

CDB progressive farmers Maktin Lego of Parbuk and Nasik Pertin of Kabang were awarded complementary Mementos for their hard work and dedication, by the Coconut Development Board and Department of Horticulture.

Scientists/resource persons of the programme were Dr. Sarat Saikia(Principal Scientist, Assam Agriculture University, Horticulture Research Station), Dr.Rajat Kumar Pal (Director Coconut Development Board,Regional Office Guwahati),Dr. Utpal Barua (Senior scientist & Head, KVK, Namsai), Dr.Deepanjali Deori (Senior Scientist & Head KVK,Roing).