100 farmers from Albert Ekka’s village trained at BAU; all receive free sprayers

Ranchi: A day long training programme on ‘Scientific maize production’ was organised at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) for 100 farmers from the village of Param Vir Chakra awardee Lance Naik Albert Ekka.

For effective spraying of chemicals to protect crops from pests and diseases, BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey distributed battery-operated sprayer machines to all the farmers.

Dr Manigopa Chakraborty, Chairperson of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, BAU, said the programme was held under the Tribal Sub-Plan of the ICAR’s All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize.

Director Research Dr PK Singh, Dean Agriculture Dr DK Shahi, and Director (Seeds & Farms) Dr Shambhunath Karmakar were also present.

Experts gave detailed inputs: Dr Manigopa Chakraborty on improved maize varieties, Dr Sunil Kumar on specialty maize, Dr C.S. Singh on production technology, Dr Milan Kumar Chakraborty on insect-pest management, Dr Manoj Kumar Barnwal on diseases and their control, and Dr Yogendra Prasad on fodder maize.

Mukhiya Dilip Baraik of Jari panchayat (Albert Ekka block, Gumla), who accompanied the farmers, introduced the trainees to the scientists. Vincent Ekka, son of Albert Ekka, also attended. Laliteshwar Singh and Jayant Kumar handled the farmers’ registration.