GOALPARA, March 7 - A one-day kisan mela on �prospects of cultivation of aromatic crops� was jointly organised by the Fragnance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC) Project for MSME-Technology Centre Imphal & District Agriculture Office, Goalpara at the District Agriculture Training Centre (DATC) on Monday.
Inaugurating the training programme, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Dass in his brief speech, while reflecting on the soico-economic status of the people engaged in agriculture in the rural areas said they should dedicate themselves for their own development. He also urged the farmers to adopt new technologies and agricultural practices like taking up multiple cropping for improving efficiency and enhancing productivity, which will lead to an increase in income.
Moreover, Dass mentioned that the future of cultivation of aromatic crops is bright as the demand for essential oils is increasing day-by-day. He urged the Agriculture department to set up a centre from where the technology those who want to take up cultivation of aromatic crops can effectively utilize the available technological inputs.
Meanwhile, the District Agriculture Officer, Budhindra Nath Hazarika said that the cultivation of aromatic crops in the district has remained unexploited. �Even though there are many hindrances while taking up the cultivation of these crops, but with proper planning and management these can be grown profitably. The DAO also urged the Government to take up a project under Aroma Mission in this �inspirational� district of Goalpara where a cluster of farmers can take up cultivation on 50 hectares with support from the government in the form of planting materials and other inputs including a distillation unit.
Resource person, Mousumi Bhuyan, a senior technical assistant (Horticulture) KVK, Dudhnoi, gave detailed information on the packaging and the farming of aromatic plants in Assam and the prospects and problems of cultivation of aromatic plants in Goalpara district. She also apprised the farmers on doubling of income through agricultural-related activities.
Talking to this correspondent project coordinator, FFDC, Kannauj, project for MSME-Technology Centre, Imphal Dr Sinam Yoirentomba Meetei, said that this is the first training programme in Assam and since there is easy availability of labour, the FFDC centre is trying to train manpower and developed skill for taking up aromatic crops cultivation which has great prospects and attractive financial benefits for the farmers. He informed that the centre will also provide forward linkages in the form of marketing and other support to the farmers. A total of 30 participants attended the training programme.
The SDO (Agric.) Ikramul Islam SDO (Agric.), Dudhnoi Monoranjan Das , SDO (Agric.) Wahid Ahmed among others were present at the training programme and gave their valuable suggestions to the participants.
