19/05/2016 (Morung Express) - Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Aghunaqa and Niuland block conducted Kisan Ghosthi programme for farmers of Niuland and Aghunaqa blocks at SDAO, Niuland on May 17.

Resource person Temjentoshi, AO-II, Dept. of Agriculture, (Niuland Sub-division) spoke on the topic “Cultivation Practices of Oil Palm”. He said that apart from the Southern states, Andamans, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Orissa and Chattisgarh the other potential areas for Oil Palm cultivation in India (NE Region) are Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland.

He stated that Oil palm which is considered as golden palm is the highest edible oil among the other oil crops. There are 3 major varieties of oil palms Dura, Pisifera and Tenera which is basically a hybrid type as it is a cross between the former two and is mostly cultivated across the globe.

He emphasized that in triangular planting method with a spacing of 9mx9mx9m, 143 to 145 oil palm plants can be accommodated in 1 ha land and planting should be done in the pits with size of 60cm X 60cm X 60cm. Intercropping can be done with vegetables, flowers, chillies, banana, tobacco, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, oil seeds like groundnut, gingelly pulses like cowpea, green gram, black gram but care should be taken with inter crops so that it will not compete with oil palms in terms of water, light and nutrients. He further elaborated in planting techniques, irrigation methods, mulching, pollination, weed control, flowering and ablation, basin management, fertilizer management, pest and diseases control and harvesting and yield. The participants were shown a 30 mts documentary video on Oil palm cultivation practices, finished products of oil palm and later on demonstrated on planting method of oil palm saplings.

During the programme, chairperson Demalu Hasnusa, BTM, Niuland Block highlighted on the roles and activities of ATMA and welcome address was delivered by L Hoshito Chophy, SDAO & BTT Convenor, (Niuland Sub-division) where he mentioned that other states are running successfully in Oil Palm cultivation and Nagaland though new to this programme as it started last year but many farmers has shown interest in it and almost half of the target area has been achieved for oil palm plantation and encouraged more farmers to take up Oil palm cultivation as it is not only suitable to our climatic conditions but also very efficient in terms of revenue.

He motivated farmers that the Dept would assist them in every possible way but mentioned that nothing can be achieved easily without hard work and cooperation both from the farmers and the depts. During interaction session between the officials and farmers various issues were discussed regarding farming techniques, assurances and provisions from the dept and Govt, farmers request to conduct more nos of capacity buildings and exposure trips to oil palm farms in other states.19/05/2016 (MExN): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Aghunaqa and Niuland block conducted Kisan Ghosthi programme for farmers of Niuland and Aghunaqa blocks at SDAO, Niuland on May 17.

Resource person Temjentoshi, AO-II, Dept. of Agriculture, (Niuland Sub-division) spoke on the topic “Cultivation Practices of Oil Palm”. He said that apart from the Southern states, Andamans, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Orissa and Chattisgarh the other potential areas for Oil Palm cultivation in India (NE Region) are Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland.

He stated that Oil palm which is considered as golden palm is the highest edible oil among the other oil crops. There are 3 major varieties of oil palms Dura, Pisifera and Tenera which is basically a hybrid type as it is a cross between the former two and is mostly cultivated across the globe.

He emphasized that in triangular planting method with a spacing of 9mx9mx9m, 143 to 145 oil palm plants can be accommodated in 1 ha land and planting should be done in the pits with size of 60cm X 60cm X 60cm. Intercropping can be done with vegetables, flowers, chillies, banana, tobacco, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, oil seeds like groundnut, gingelly pulses like cowpea, green gram, black gram but care should be taken with inter crops so that it will not compete with oil palms in terms of water, light and nutrients. He further elaborated in planting techniques, irrigation methods, mulching, pollination, weed control, flowering and ablation, basin management, fertilizer management, pest and diseases control and harvesting and yield. The participants were shown a 30 mts documentary video on Oil palm cultivation practices, finished products of oil palm and later on demonstrated on planting method of oil palm saplings.

During the programme, chairperson Demalu Hasnusa, BTM, Niuland Block highlighted on the roles and activities of ATMA and welcome address was delivered by L Hoshito Chophy, SDAO & BTT Convenor, (Niuland Sub-division) where he mentioned that other states are running successfully in Oil Palm cultivation and Nagaland though new to this programme as it started last year but many farmers has shown interest in it and almost half of the target area has been achieved for oil palm plantation and encouraged more farmers to take up Oil palm cultivation as it is not only suitable to our climatic conditions but also very efficient in terms of revenue.

He motivated farmers that the Dept would assist them in every possible way but mentioned that nothing can be achieved easily without hard work and cooperation both from the farmers and the depts. During interaction session between the officials and farmers various issues were discussed regarding farming techniques, assurances and provisions from the dept and Govt, farmers request to conduct more nos of capacity buildings and exposure trips to oil palm farms in other states.