HAYULIANG, 25 Aug: The Anjaw Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) conducted a three-day field monitoring and survey programme from 22 to 24 August in the vibrant villages of Trampa, Abohagam, Kalamna and Tegamna under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) project.
The KVK team visited the beneficiary farmers' fields and inspected the established kiwi and plum orchards, as well as piggery units. The team assessed plant survival, vegetative growth, orchard management practices, general field conditions and the management of piggery sheds.
The team observed encouraging establishment and vigorous growth of distributed kiwi and plum plants and successful piggery units under the prevailing agro-climatic conditions of the selected villages.
After 10 months, some crossbred piglets (Yorkshire & Hampshire) were found to have produced eight piglets on average, which were sold at Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 each after 60 days (weighing 12-13 kg per piglet), generating revenue of Rs 36,000 to Rs 40,000 per farrowing cycle under traditional housing and feeding.
KVK Head Dr Debasis Sasmal urged the beneficiary farmers to adopt recommended scientific practices for management of both fruit orchards and piggery units. He stressed the need for regular care and maintenance of the distributed fruit plants and livestock, so that the interventions undertaken through the TSP project can provide sustainable economic benefits to farming families.
Subject matter specialist (SMS) Satveer Yadav provided the farmers with technical guidance on scientific management of fruit orchards. He said that successful commercial fruit production depends not only on the use of quality planting materials but also on adoption of recommended orchard management practices. Farmers were advised on proper site selection, pit preparation and planting, timely irrigation, regular weeding, balanced nutrient management, training and pruning, orchard sanitation, and integrated pest and disease management.
He also highlighted the importance of regular monitoring of orchards for early detection and timely management of insect pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies.
Another SMS, Ugarsain Sangwan, provided the farmers with technical guidance on protected cultivation, efficient management of land and water resources, and nutrient management in horticultural crops. He emphasised the importance of adopting appropriate scientific technologies for improving input-use efficiency, crop productivity and the overall sustainability of horticultural production systems under the hill conditions of Anjaw district.
He advised the farmers to remain in regular contact with KVK scientists for technical advice and timely solutions to field-level problems.
Under the TSP initiative, the KVK had distributed quality planting materials of kiwi fruit (cv Allison) and plum (cv Santa Rosa), along with Hampshire piglets, to selected beneficiary farmers in the vibrant villages. These interventions were introduced to encourage diversification of existing farming systems through the integration of high-value horticulture and scientific piggery farming.
