GUWAHATI, March 4 � A two-day State-level seminar on spices development under the aegis of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) was conducted by the Spices Board of India, Guwahati on February 26-27 at the conference hall of the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Kahikuchi, stated a press release.
Altogether 230 farmers, 25 officers from the Department of Horticulture & Food Processing, Government of Assam, besides subject specialists, scientists, members of NGOs, SHGs, farmer groups, etc., participated in the seminar and got training on cultivation, processing and market promotion.
Inaugurating the seminar, Dr GN Hazarika, Director, Research, Assam Agricultural University, appreciated the Spices Board for organising it by inviting the line departments, farmers, stakeholders and market promotion body to come under a single umbrella to work together for better future of the spice industry. He stressed on large-scale disease-free planting material production of Nadia ginger, Lakadong turmeric for distribution to the farmers and growing of black pepper in the shade trees of tea gardens of Assam to double the income.
Nekib Saikia, Principal, SIRD, Kahikuchi attended the seminar as a guest of honour and explained the role of SIRD in organising such seminars, trainings in the institute.
Dr Sarat Saikia, senior scientist, Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi, AAU explained the latest development on cultivation of ginger and stressed on green ginger harvesting and preservation at different intervals according to needs of importing countries. DM Barman, who is doing research on turmeric at AAU, Jorhat, stressed on the best cultivation practices comparing the research trial and its impact on ultimate yield. Tridip Kr Deka, senior HDO, Department of Horticulture & Food Processing, Government of Assam presented a status paper of spices in Assam and departmental activities in this field.
Dr NC Talukdar, Director, Institute of Advance Study of Science & Technology (IASST), Government of India, Guwahati in his speech on organic farming with special reference to spices in Assam explained the importance of organic farming for promotion of organic spices in Assam in the purview of its global demand. He stressed the immediate need of organic farming for sustainable agriculture and to save the environment.
Bidyut Baruah, Assistant General Manager, APEDA, Guwahati explained the organic certification procedures and the export of organic commodities in different states of the Northeast. Dr Jatin Kalita, scientist, Biotechnology Division, NEIST, Jorhat narrated the scientific cultivation practices of bhoot jalakia which has great potential for high income in low volume areas, especially for the small and marginal farmers of Assam.
On February 27, the programme began with a speech by Dr Gitali Das, Deputy Director, Regional Research Station, RRI, Rubber Board, Guwahati on the scope of growing ginger and turmeric as intercrop in immature rubber plantations where she pointed out the possibility and prospects of spices crops in rubber plantations.
Dr Kusum Deka, senior scientist, Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi, AAU explained in brief the production, development and post-harvest technologies of black pepper and its nursery management. Dr Gautam Das, assistant professor, Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), Guwahati delivered a lecture on spice processing and ongoing training and research activities of IICPT with regard to spices.
