Awareness and exposure program for women farmers from Goa under SCSP

    ICAR-CCARI organized a farmers' awareness and exposure program for a group of 22 women farmers from Bandora Village, Ponda, Goa under SCSP on 11 December 2024. The institute technologies and facilities were demonstrated to the farmers during this one day programme. The farmers were exposed to Livestock Waste Valorization System (LWVS), PHOSPHO URJA, a Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) produced from the livestock waste, Waste water treatment unit, livestock and fishery units, integrated farming systems, paddy fields, horticulture units and farm nursery. The products and technologies of the institute, which are ready for transfer to the field were also shown and the farmers expressed their interest in taking up the technologies especially on value added agricultural products. Dr. A Raizada, Director-In-Charge emphasized the farmers for the adoption of the technologies developed by the institute to improve their farm income. Dr Shirish Narnaware, Senior Scientist from Animal Science urged the farmers for establishing the livestock and fish value addition units considering the ideal coastal ecosystem of the village. Dr Gokuldas PP, Senior Scientist from Animal Science sensitized the farmers on livestock farming practices and the need for conservation of indigenous breeds of animals from the coastal region. Dr Gopal R Mahajan, Senior Scientist (Soil Science) shared the package of practices on the field level application of the PROM, PHOSPHO URJA and urged the farmers to promote organic farming practices. Dr. Sreekanth GB, Senior Scientist from Fisheries highlighted the importance of integrated fish farming for the coastal region in order to diversify the livelihood opportunities for fishermen and farmers. Shri. Vinod A Ubharande, Farm Superintendent provided an overview of CCARI’s profile, activities, technologies, and achievements. The videos on the success stories of the progressive farmers including Shri, Sanjay Ananta Patil, Padma Shri awardee from Goa were displayed to the farmers. During the programme, the PROM were also distributed among the farmers for field trials in the village. The farmers expressed their gratitude towards the institute for organizing the field exposure programme and assured their support in research and extension activities. Adv. Surel Tilve, Chairman of the biodiversity management committee of Bandora and coordinator of the group expressed his remarks by thanking the institute for the programme and assured whole-hearted support for the activities in documenting, preserving and utilizing the agro-biodiversity of the village. Shri. Manish Patel, Technician, Natural Resource Management section coordinated the field visits and exposure programme.