TAWANG, AUG 19:
Efforts to promote improved finger millet cultivation and farm mechanisation in Tawang district are gaining momentum, with the variety VL Mandua 376 showing promising field performance and drawing growing interest among farmers.
As part of the ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (ICAR-VPKAS), Almora, North Eastern Hill (NEH) Programme, farmer-scientist interactions, field demonstrations and mechanisation activities were conducted at Kyidphel, Baghar and Phomang villages on August 17 and 18 in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tawang.
A farmer-scientist interaction at Kyidphel on August 17 focused on the performance and adoption of VL Mandua 376. Farmers said the improved variety was gaining acceptance due to its shorter duration, higher yield potential and suitability to local agro-climatic conditions. Field visits showed vigorous growth, good panicle development and effective tillering.
A Finger Millet Field Day at Baghar village under Lumla Block on August 18 saw 39 farmers observe the performance of the variety. VL Mandua 376 exhibited vigorous growth, well-filled panicles and good tillering. Scientists highlighted its early maturity—around 25 days earlier than the commonly grown local variety—making it particularly suitable for Tawang’s short growing season and high-altitude conditions.
At Phomang village, a demonstration of the Vivek Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler was conducted for 30 farmers. The demonstration focused on the machine’s operation and its potential to reduce the labour, time and physical drudgery involved in traditional threshing and processing of finger millet.
The programmes were coordinated by Dr Kamini Bisht Senior Scientist (Social Science) and Dr R P Meena Scientist (Agronomy) of ICAR-VPKAS, along with Dr C K Singh of KVK Tawang and Dr M S Bhinda Millet Breeder. The scientists interacted with farmers on varietal performance, agronomic practices, production constraints, mechanisation and adoption patterns.
Dr Singh highlighted the growing popularity of VL Mandua 376 and the role of farmer-to-farmer seed dissemination in expanding its cultivation. Dr Meena stressed appropriate agronomic practices and mechanisation to improve productivity and profitability, while Dr Bhinda gathered farmers’ feedback on varietal and yield traits. Dr Bisht assessed farmers’ perceptions, adoption behaviour and socioeconomic benefits associated with the variety.
The interactions also helped document farmers’ preferences, adoption patterns and field-level challenges. The encouraging response indicates a gradual shift from initial adoption towards wider cultivation of the improved variety in the district.
ICAR-VPKAS and KVK Tawang said future interventions would focus on mechanisation, value addition, improved processing, market linkages and wider access to appropriate technologies to strengthen the millet value chain.
The improved variety and mechanisation initiatives are expected to enhance finger millet productivity and farm profitability while reducing drudgery and strengthening millet-based livelihoods among farming communities in Tawang. (DIPR)
