Canacona Tribal Farmers’ Meet
Canacona Tribal Farmers’ Meet
The program on “Tribal Farmers’ Meet “ of Cancona zone was organized at ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa on 25th August 2016 under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)Programme with a view to apprise them of the benefits of adopting improved production technologies on plantation, spice & fruit crops. While welcoming the Chief Guest, Dr. (Smt) Mridula Sinha, Honorable Governor of Goa, Dr. Narendra Pratap Singh, Director, ICAR –CCARI, gave introductory remarks about the “Tribal Sub Plan” Program launched by this institute from past five years and the benefits accrued by the tribal farming community in the state of Goa. On this occasion Honorable Governor of Goa, addressed the farmer group delivering a vibrant message on importance of plants & the emotional relationship of mankind with plants. In her golden message Honorable Governor emphasized the need for conserving and strengthening the local skills of the farming community & inculcate the ones with the modern farming practices for the ever charming prosperity of the rural folk so that such approaches would pave way for long and sustainable technology for the betterment of livelihood security of rural people. During the meet, planting material of improved varieties of cashew (4000 grafts), mango (2000 grafts), coconut (600 hybrid seedlings), arecanut (650 seedlings), nutmeg (100 grafts) & black pepper (500 grafts & 1000 rooted cuttings) was distributed through the golden hands of Honorable Governor for marking the acceptance of the technology of using grafts and hybrids of the above crops by the tribal farmers, who otherwise were dependent only on using non descript low yielding local planting material. The above material was provided to the tribal farmers of Cancona zone under the TSP Project entitled “Technology intervention for higher productivity and production of important horticulture crops for improving livelihood security of tribal farmers in Goa” handled by Dr.A.R.Desai, Sr.Scientist (Hort.). During the meet, he gave a brief account of the impact of the technology interventions and trainings imparted to tribal farmers along with farm machineries (Brush cutters & Power Sprayers) and farm inputs (Fertilizers & Agro chemicals). Success story on adoption of turmeric production practices was evinced by the Taleshir Self Help Group of Bhers, Gaondongri village, Canacona by receiving a cheque through the golden hands of the Honorable Governor, for Rs.3 Lakhs towards supply of six tons of turmeric seed rhizomes (Var. Pratibha) to the institute which in turn was provided to other tribal farmers of Cotigaon village for taking up turmeric cultivation. Shri. Ulhas Pai Kakode, Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Goa also addressed the farmers about the need of adoption of sustainable technologies for enhancing productivity. Dr. S. Priya Devi, Sr. Scientist (Fruit Sci.) moderated the entire programme and proposed vote of thanks.