GUWAHATI, March 24 � A two-day Tree Growers� mela (fair) was held on March 20 and 22, 2015 at the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat to increase awareness among the farmers, foresters and others members of the society about the needs of tree plantation for livelihood management and mitigation of climatic changes. This was stated in a press release here.
Rajib Kumar Kalita, a scientist of the institute informed that more than 300 progressive farmers of the north-eastern States participated in this mela. Apart from them, students from universities such as Kolkata State University and Assam Cooperative Management University, Sivasagar, representatives from NGOs, SHGs, JFMCs, industries, State Forest Department, Soil Conservation Department, Horticulture Department, Sericulture Department and NABARD took part in the mela, which was held for the first time in North-east India.
Delivering the welcome address at the inaugural session of the mela, RFRI Director Dr NS Bisht spoke on the ongoing laboratory-to-field activities of the institute to enhance the scope of the farmers, tree growers, small industrial units in livelihood opportunities and capacity building efforts. He laid a special emphasis on cultivation of bamboo and agar and production of value-added products based on these forest resources.
Dr D Ramaiah, Director, North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, spoke as the guest of honour at the inaugural function. He underlined the role of the farmers in this respect. He spoke about the farmer-friendly technologies developed by the NEIST, including the ones connected with the production of citronella, lemon, mushroom etc. He requested the audience to derive the benefits from these research outcomes of the NEIST by applying them in their respective fields.
On the occasion, RFRI, Jorhat felicitated renowned botanist, popular science writer and a retired scientist of Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Ananda Chandra Dutta, DSc, for his outstanding contributions and activities towards promotion of science.
In his acceptance lecture, Dutta, highlighted the need of conservation of locally-available medicinal and firewood plants for maintaining good health and to mitigate fuel scarcity in the days to come. He urged the farmers to plant such tree species in their plantations and homesteads to enhance livelihood options.
Dr Rafiquz Zaman, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Co-operative University and chief guest of the inaugural session, in his speech spoke on the Rashtriya Krishi Bikash Yojana (RKBY) and urged the farmers to avail its benefits. He also spoke on the farmer-friendly activities of the Rajiv Gandhi Co-operative University, Sivasagar and urged the farmers to act in unison through co-operative societies.
Dr Zaman also maintained that the small tea growers of the State are suffering due to lack of their own processing units.
Another attraction of the mela was the release of five information brochures on topics such as Broom grass cultivation and Management, Boucherie Machine for bamboo preservation, Bamboo charcoal production, Nuni: cultivation and Management, and Melia dubia: Cultivation and Management as hands-on information for farmers.
In the interactive session of the mela, various queries came from the farmers and the students on different issues. Dr Bipin Khangia , scientist and professor Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, S K Thakuria, DFO, Logging, Tinsukia, Mayur Bora, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, KK Saikia, DFO, Social forestry, Sivasagar, Samiran Bhatta, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jorhat and Dr TC Bhuyan, RFRI, Jorhat answered the queries of the participants as resource persons.
GUWAHATI, March 24 � A two-day Tree Growers� mela (fair) was held on March 20 and 22, 2015 at the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat to increase awareness among the farmers, foresters and others members of the society about the needs of tree plantation for livelihood management and mitigation of climatic changes. This was stated in a press release here.
Rajib Kumar Kalita, a scientist of the institute informed that more than 300 progressive farmers of the north-eastern States participated in this mela. Apart from them, students from universities such as Kolkata State University and Assam Cooperative Management University, Sivasagar, representatives from NGOs, SHGs, JFMCs, industries, State Forest Department, Soil Conservation Department, Horticulture Department, Sericulture Department and NABARD took part in the mela, which was held for the first time in North-east India.
Delivering the welcome address at the inaugural session of the mela, RFRI Director Dr NS Bisht spoke on the ongoing laboratory-to-field activities of the institute to enhance the scope of the farmers, tree growers, small industrial units in livelihood opportunities and capacity building efforts. He laid a special emphasis on cultivation of bamboo and agar and production of value-added products based on these forest resources.
Dr D Ramaiah, Director, North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, spoke as the guest of honour at the inaugural function. He underlined the role of the farmers in this respect. He spoke about the farmer-friendly technologies developed by the NEIST, including the ones connected with the production of citronella, lemon, mushroom etc. He requested the audience to derive the benefits from these research outcomes of the NEIST by applying them in their respective fields.
On the occasion, RFRI, Jorhat felicitated renowned botanist, popular science writer and a retired scientist of Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Ananda Chandra Dutta, DSc, for his outstanding contributions and activities towards promotion of science.
In his acceptance lecture, Dutta, highlighted the need of conservation of locally-available medicinal and firewood plants for maintaining good health and to mitigate fuel scarcity in the days to come. He urged the farmers to plant such tree species in their plantations and homesteads to enhance livelihood options.
Dr Rafiquz Zaman, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Co-operative University and chief guest of the inaugural session, in his speech spoke on the Rashtriya Krishi Bikash Yojana (RKBY) and urged the farmers to avail its benefits. He also spoke on the farmer-friendly activities of the Rajiv Gandhi Co-operative University, Sivasagar and urged the farmers to act in unison through co-operative societies.
Dr Zaman also maintained that the small tea growers of the State are suffering due to lack of their own processing units.
Another attraction of the mela was the release of five information brochures on topics such as Broom grass cultivation and Management, Boucherie Machine for bamboo preservation, Bamboo charcoal production, Nuni: cultivation and Management, and Melia dubia: Cultivation and Management as hands-on information for farmers.
In the interactive session of the mela, various queries came from the farmers and the students on different issues. Dr Bipin Khangia , scientist and professor Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, S K Thakuria, DFO, Logging, Tinsukia, Mayur Bora, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, KK Saikia, DFO, Social forestry, Sivasagar, Samiran Bhatta, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jorhat and Dr TC Bhuyan, RFRI, Jorhat answered the queries of the participants as resource persons.
