Technological advancements should be widely disseminated to benefit small and marginal farmers, says Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi
The stakeholders should ensure that the technological demonstrations being practiced in the 29 Centre of Excellence (CoEs) for Vegetables should be widely disseminated in the villages surrounding the CoEs specially to benefit small and marginal farmers, says Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers. He made this statement while visiting the Indo- Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Reddiarchatram village, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. He also interacted with the stakeholders of CoEs.
While interacting with farmers, Dr. Likhi informed that it has been decided to identify 150 villages around already operational CoEs for transferring them into Indo-Israel Village of Excellence based on the principles of Israel technologies and methodologies disseminated from these CoEs. To begin with 75 villages have been taken up in first year to commemorate the 75th year of India’s Independence. 13 CoEs have been selected for adoption of 75 villages under IIVOE programme. The Indo-Israel Villages of Excellence program will focus on: (1) modern agriculture infrastructure and technologies, (2) capacity building, (3) market linkage.
Dr. Likhi informed that under the Indo-Israel Agriculture Work Plan, action plans have been prepared from time to time for implementation of activities mutually agreed upon between the two countries. Technologies are provided by Israel through its experts and funds for creation of infrastructure for demonstration of technologies are made available from MIDH (Mission for Development of Horticulture) of DA&FW. Based on the Israeli technologies, Centres of Excellence (CoEs) are being established in various States. These CoEs serve as demonstration and training centres for latest technologies in the field of horticulture. These CoEs also serve as source of planting material for fruits and vegetable seedlings for protected cultivation.
CoE Dindigul has trained department officials, farmers, school and college students of Tamil Nadu and other States on the latest technologies adopted in vegetable production under both protected cultivation and open conditions. This Centre also provides skill development trainings to the needy people to encourage the self-employment and creation of technology awareness which attracts many youngster towards agriculture.
Technologies adopted by the CoE Dindigul from Israel include drip irrigation system for efficient water use, protected cultivation of vegetables, open field cultivation of vegetables and mulching technology to control soil erosion, soil temperature and weed growth and conserve soil moisture. Farmers can avail quality protray vegetable seedlings at their nearest proximity.
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