“Jharkhand is very suitable for the cultivation of all types of crops. Farmers can take advantage of this by adopting different modes of agriculture. Local agricultural scientists have developed many beneficial techniques. Farmers should trust the agricultural scientists and adopt the strategy of better and suitable agricultural planning in agriculture,” said Vice Chancellor (VC), Birsa Agriculture University (BAU) Dr Onkar Nath Singh, in license training program of Farmer Producer Organization (FPO).
Singh said that rural agriculture is getting strength due to the emergence of FPO at the village level. “This training will help the representatives of the FPO to acquire the latest agricultural technology knowledge. The involvement and experience of 15 days during the training of FPOs will help in better agricultural planning and will help in maintaining continuity and dynamics in rural agriculture development,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion as special guest National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Regional Office, Ranchi, General Manager, Gautam Kumar Singh said that in agricultural work, agricultural work is proving to be more effective by forming a group than by a single effort of the farmers. “FPO will have to focus on market based and better market management. In the training, FPO representatives will have ease in input license with practical knowledge of fertilizers, seeds and insect and pesticide subjects. FPO members will be able to easily provide agricultural inputs to the group,” he added.
While BAU Registrar Dr. N. Kudada stressed on the adoption of advanced agricultural technology, value addition and processing of agricultural producers in addition to the FPOs. Assistant General Manager, NABARD, Abhay Kumar Singh said that information about the use of fertilizers and fertilizers, agricultural diversification, cost of cultivation and others will help in increasing the income of the farmers. NABARD Manager, Pooja Bharti said that training will make FPOs eligible for fertilizer and seed licence. After getting the fertilizer license to the representative of the FPO after the training, agricultural input will be easily available at the doorstep of the farmers, she added.
On this occasion, Training Coordinator, Dr BK Jha said that the formation of FPOs at the village level is an ambitious program of the Government of India. “Its implementing agency is NABARD. A total of 300 FPOs are working in the State through NABARD, SFAC, NCDC and JSLPS. Of these, a total of 200 FPOs are operated directly from NABARD. A total of 5 FPOs based on guava have been established at Kanke, Namkum, Mander and Lapung in Ranchi district and green chilli based at Bharno in Gumla district by BAU. In this training FPO will be given information about input supply system, collection of agricultural products, value addition and processing and marketing subjects,” he added.
On the first day, Soil Scientist, Dr Prabhakar Mohapatra gave information related to soil health management, soil testing, soil health card, manure and fertilizers to the participants. Plant breeder Dr CS Mahto gave detailed information about the importance of seeds in crop production, importance of improved seeds and seed technology.
A total of 45 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Board of Directors (BOD) associated with Farmer Producer Organization working in 17 districts of the state are participating in this training program
