The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Mr. Sudarshan Bhagat visited Muttar, the only village in Kerala where national project on ‘National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture’ (NICRA) is implemented and interacted with farmers to know the developments occurred in the agriculture scenario of the village through the implementation of NICRA project for last five years. The Minister explained about the farmer friendly development programmes implemented by the Govt. of India in various parts of the country like Prime Misters Fasal Bhima Yojana, Krishi Sinchayi Yojana, Soil Health Card programme etc for doubling the farmers’ income by 2022. He also emphasized the need for Integrated Farming System (IFS) approach for sustainable development of the farmers by incorporation of crops with dairy, fisheries, poultry, duck and other enterprises for doubling the income. He also pointed out the importance of adoption of organic farming and reducing the excess usage of chemical inputs. Dr. Sreenath Dixit, Director, ATARI, Bengaluru, in his key note address briefed the programmes implemented as part of the NICRA project in the Muttar panchayath of Kuttanad, the rice bowl of the state situated two meters below MSL, by ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra – Alappuzha,. The eco-friendly and resource conserving technologies for paddy, integrated crop management package for coconut, modified cultivation of banana, rain shelter cultivation, poultry farming in raised platform, integrated duck-fish farming, recycling of organic residues through portable biogas plants, EM composting of aquatic weeds, dairy management techniques and introduction of short duration cassava varieties are the major technologies demonstrated as part of the project by the KVK. About 150 farmers were gathered and shared their experience with minister. Sri. P.A. Thomas, secretary of paddy farmers’ group, highlighted the benefits of the climate resilient technologies implemented by the KVK. Sri. Mathukutty Eapen, President Muttar Grama Panchayath expressed gratitude for selecting the panchayath for the project and requested for extending the project for the benefits of the farmers. Dr. P. Muralidharan, Head KVK – Alappuzha made welcome speech. Dr. V. Krishnakumar, Head, CPCRI Regional Station, Sri. Kummanam Rajasekharan, State President BJP, peoples’ representatives and Sri. Sreekumara Panicker, Agricultural Officer were participated in the function.
