ICAR-IIWM organized one farmers’ training cum demonstration programme on “Crop Intensification and Diversification of Rice Based Production System for Enhancing Water Productivity and Farm Income” on 3rd December, 2024 under the ‘Farmer FIRST Programme’ benefiting 60 farmers and farmwomen from the adopted cluster consisting of three villages namely, Haridamada, Jamujhari and Barapita of Jatani and Bhubaneswar blocks in Khordha district. At the outset, the participants were welcomed by Dr. Sumanta Kumar Mishra, Principal Scientist and PI, followed by a discussion on enhancing farm production, increasing water productivity, and family income of smallholder rice farmers for achieving livelihood security. Dr. B. S. Satapathy, Senior Scientist & Co-PI discussed about the cultivation methods and practices of rabi season pulses in rice-fallow cropping system and explained in detail about the green gram production technology including pests and diseases management. Dr. Prativa. Sahu, Scientist & Co-PI expressed that introducing improved varieties of green gram in rice-fallows is a low-cost technology and can supplement farm productivity and income, while making low cost protein diets available to farming communities at their reach. Later, the scientists imparted a hands-on demonstration on the procedure of treating green gram seeds with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium culture (bacteria) with active participation of farmers. Finally, green gram seeds (var: Sikha) and Rhizobium culture were distributed as critical inputs to all 60 participants. At the end Dr. S.K. Mishra thanked the farmers for their active participation. The programme was coordinated and assisted by Ms. Isha Anindita Sahoo, SRF and Mr. Firoj Kumar Pradhan, Field Assistant.
