 Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 8: Team of Scientist of SKUAST -Jammu under the guidance Prof. J. P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, conducted back to back two visits under village visit and revist programme in Choki Chora and Targwal villages of Akhnoor block of Jammu district. In both the visits, the Scientists interacted with the farming community and on the spot addressed their various problems. Farmers of the area conveyed their gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. J. P. Sharma, who had created a very strong linkage between farming community, university and allied departments.
The programme is conducted under the supervision of Dr Rakesh Nanda, Head, Division of Agricultural Extension Education. In Chowki Choura, about 70 farmers were formally welcomed along with brief introduction of the team by Mr. Garu Ram, Agriculture Extension Officer. The various problems emerged in the discussion were increasing incidence of monkey menace, parthenium encroachment, particularly in forest and vacant places where farmers usually collect grass as fodder, fragmentation of land holding, lack of procurement centre for maize coop, disease management in cucurbit crops and lack of knowledge regarding production of indigenous balanced ration for livestock. Growing of alternate crops like cluster bean (Guar), Lemon grass and lemon was suggested for monkey menace problems and some of the farmers were found using it. It was urged by some of the farmers that while deciding beneficiaries for certain schemes, it must be kept in mind that whether such type of small or semi medium farmers are available in those areas or not and marginal farmers could not avail these schemes. Farmers were also suggested to form FPO on maize till procurement Centre for small panchayath like Rah & Salyote may be established. The use of 2,4-D selective herbicide was also suggested for use on vacant areas to get rid of Parthenium and other broad leave weeds so that farmers can harvest weed free fodder grasses from these areas. Different chemicals with their popular trade names were suggested by scientists for the diseases of cucurbits. Different irrigation schemes for water harvesting like Amrit Sarovar were also discussed. Tips for balanced nutritional feed was also told to the farmers using their farm and home recourses. The team comprised of Dr. Lakshmi Kant Sharma, Dr. Amit Kumar Singh, Dr. A.K. Pathak, Dr Rakesh Sharma and Dr Neeraj Gupta.
The second programme at Targwal was started with a brief introduction of the entire scientists by Dr. S. P. Singh, Team Coordinator. Dr. Singh welcomed all farmers and discussed the objectives and background of the programme. Dr. Sachin Gupta Associate professor Div. of Plant Pathology, advised farmers to adopt seed treatment practice for avoiding disease infestation, he further advice farmer to adopt Mushroom cultivation. Dr. Vikas Gupta, Junior Scientist Agronomy, ACRA, Dhiansar, advised the farmers for timely sowing of the Maize, Bajara, Mash and also advise them to adopt moisture conserving technique. Dr. Abha Tikko, Professor, Vet. Medicine, advised farmers about foot and mouth and mastitis disease in animal and their control. Dr. Sushmita Dadhich Associate Professor, Div of Agricultural Engineering, advised the farmers to adopt water harvesting techniques and conservation of water resources. Dr. Deep Ji Bhat, Assistant Professor Div. of Fruit Science informed the farmers to adopt citrus, Mango and Amla cultivation in the area for better yield and profitability. Dr.Sanjeev Kumar, Assistant Professor, Vegetable Science, advised the farmers to adopt kitchen gardening for the daily requirement of the vegetables for the family. Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Associate Professor, Agril. Extension Education is the Nodal Officer of Village Visit and Revisit Programme.
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