BASAR, 15 Oct: The West Siang Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) organised a field day on finger millet cultivation at its farm in Bam near here in Leparada district on Thursday to promote the adoption of improved millet varieties and sustainable agricultural practices.
The programme highlighted the potential of 'VL Mandua 380', a medium-duration, high-yielding and blast-tolerant finger millet variety suitable for the rainfed, organic agro-ecology of hilly regions. The variety matures in approximately 113-118 days and offers an appropriate option for diversifying cropping systems, enhancing farm productivity, and strengthening farmers' resilience under rainfed conditions.
KVK Head Dr Manoj Kumar briefed the participants on the benefits of finger millet cultivation in the region. He emphasised its nutritional importance, adaptability to diverse growing conditions, and potential to improve food and nutritional security, while providing farmers with an additional crop option.
Plant Breeding ACTO Dr Rita Nongthombam explained the recommended cultivation practices for finger millet, covering key aspects of crop establishment, sowing, transplanting, and crop management. She highlighted the importance of adopting appropriate agronomic practices to ensure healthy crop growth and better yields.
The programme was attended also by fruit science expert Akshay and Soil Science Senior Technical Officer Wangnem Rekhung, who joined the initiative to promote agricultural awareness and improved farming practices.
The field day provided an opportunity to highlight the suitability of VL Mandua 380 for the region's hill agriculture. Such initiatives by the KVK aim to encourage crop diversification, promote climate-resilient farming, and improve the livelihood opportunities of farmers in Arunachal Pradesh.
