College of Horticulture & Forestry Organizes Workshop on Potential Crops Cultivation

The workshop benefited 75 buckwheat and other potential crop growing farmers and traders in the district. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Kaling Moyong urged farmers to learn about the health benefits of potential crops and to use scientific farming methods.

In his address, Bharatiya Kishan Morcha state president Dunggali Libang urged farmers to practice scientific farming and include potential crops in their daily diets for health benefits.

Dr. Hanuman Lal Raiger, potential crop network coordinator at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, emphasised the research accomplishments in releasing improved buckwheat varieties.

"Buckwheat is one of the very nutritious crops that can be grown in Arunachal Pradesh on a zero budget for more return to the growers," he said. Dr. Raiger met with buckwheat farmers from Namshing, Runne, Takilalung, and Jampani villages, assuring them of his full support.

He also went to the CHF to see the Faba bean experimental field and other potential crops. In terms of nutrients and nutraceutical properties, principal investigator Prof. P Debnath emphasised the superiority of buckwheat over other major cereal crops such as rice, wheat, maize, and so on.

Dr. L D Hatai, Dr. R C Shakywar, Dr. Rajib Das, Dr. Ajai Kr Math, and Dr. Tasoo Yatiung presented on marketing strategies, diseases and pests, seed production, and faba bean processing.

Prof. SK Bandhopadhya, CHF dean Prof. B N Hazarika, and CoA dean Dr. A K Tripathi were among those who spoke.

During the workshop, farmers received a variety of agricultural inputs such as certified buckwheat seed, knapsack sprayers, spades, vermibeds, vermicompost, and biopesticies.