Williamnagar, Oct 29: The District Horticulture Office, East Garo Hills, in collaboration with ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), East Garo Hills, organized a stakeholders’ meeting for farmers of the district. The program featured technical sessions on topics such as overcoming field challenges through practical solutions for arecanut farmers, good agricultural practices in arecanut and cocoa cultivation, integrated disease management, and integrated pest management for sustainable production.
The meeting was graced by Dimseritha A. Sangma, Additional Deputy Commissioner of East Garo Hills, as the Chief Guest, along with Dr. Vinayaka Hedge (Head, Crop Protection, ICAR–CPCRI, Kasaragod), Dr. Bhavishya, Dr. Thava Prakasha Pandian, and Dr. Jillu V. Sajan from ICAR–CPCRI, Kasaragod, and Alva Vesta D. Shira, District Horticulture Officer, East Garo Hills, among others.
The programme began with a welcome address by Alva Vesta D. Shira, followed by a keynote address by Dr. Vinayaka Hedge. Dignitaries also distributed biocontrol agents to selected farmers as part of the initiative.
In her address, Chief Guest Dimseritha A. Sangma expressed her gratitude to the scientists from Kerala for visiting East Garo Hills and sharing their valuable knowledge with the farmers. She acknowledged the importance of traditional farming wisdom but urged farmers to adopt scientific cultivation methods to improve productivity. “I respect the traditional farming practices of our people, but for better yields, I encourage farmers to follow the scientific methods taught by experts,” she said.
More than 100 farmers participated in the event, attending the technical sessions led by scientists from ICAR–CPCRI. The experts shared practical approaches to address field challenges, improve crop health, and enhance productivity in arecanut and cocoa plantations.
Speaking exclusively to Hub News, Dr. Vinayaka Hedge highlighted that the Garo Hills region has the largest area under arecanut cultivation in Meghalaya. However, he noted that improper agricultural practices have led to bud rot disease affecting many farmers. He emphasized the importance of water conservation between November and March, when rainfall is minimal, and recommended the use of high-yielding varieties and improved plantation methods for better productivity. He further suggested the application of preventive organic sprays to maintain plant health and boost yield.
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