In a significant step towards sustainable agriculture, a comprehensive one-day training programme on organic potato cultivation brought together farmers from Mokokchung, Tuensang, and Longleng districts in Mokokchung. The initiative, jointly organized by the State Agriculture Research Station (SARS), Yisemyong, and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) Research Station, Shillong, aimed to address crucial aspects of potato farming in the region.
The training highlighted a persistent challenge in northeastern states – the scarcity of quality potato seeds. Dr. N Sailo, a senior scientist from ICAR-CPRI Shillong, emphasized this as a major impediment to sustainable potato production. He outlined a comprehensive approach to tackle this issue, focusing on establishing robust seed production chains, implementing scientific cultivation methods, and securing government support for sustainable farming practices.
Nagaland’s agricultural landscape presents unique opportunities and challenges. Lipokonen Jamir, joint director of SARS Yisemyong, pointed out that the state’s diverse ecological zones offer distinctive advantages for crop production across different seasons. SARS Yisemyong has been actively working to identify optimal sowing dates for various crops, achieving promising results particularly in off-season maize cultivation. However, the region’s dependence on out-of-state seeds remains a significant concern, often resulting in timing mismatches for seasonal planting.
To address these challenges, a practical approach has been initiated. Five varieties of breeder potato seeds have been distributed to grassroots farmers across the three districts for experimental cultivation. This initiative aims to gather valuable feedback that will inform the scaling-up of potato farming operations, conducted in collaboration with the ICAR-CPRI Research Station, Shillong.
The training programme featured comprehensive technical sessions where farmers received instruction in natural and organic farming methods from Lipokonen Jamir. Experts from ICAR-CPRI Shillong, including Dr. N. Sailo, shared valuable insights into organic potato cultivation practices. The theoretical knowledge was complemented by practical frontline demonstrations and field visits, providing farmers with hands-on experience in implementing these techniques.
Despite the challenges of hill and slope-based farming in the region, Dr. Sailo assured that scientific solutions are available and adaptable to local conditions. The high market potential of potato cultivation adds economic significance to these efforts, and SARS Yisemyong’s ongoing experiments with various potato varieties show promising signs for the future of potato farming in Nagaland.
