TAWANG, Aug 19: Efforts to promote improved finger millet cultivation and farm mechanisation in Tawang district have received an encouraging response from farmers, with the improved variety VL Mandua 376 demonstrating promising field performance across different locations of the district.
As part of the ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (ICAR-VPKAS), Almora, NEH Programme, a series of farmer–scientist interactions, field demonstrations and mechanisation activities were organised at Kyidphel, Baghar and Phomang villages on August 17 and 18 in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tawang.
At Kyidphel village on August 17, a farmer–scientist interaction was organised to assess the performance and adoption of VL Mandua 376. The improved finger millet variety has been gaining acceptance among farmers owing to its short duration, higher yield potential and suitability to local agro-climatic conditions. Its increasing farmer-to-farmer spread across Tawang indicates encouraging adoption of the variety in the high-altitude region.
During field visits, the crop exhibited vigorous growth, good panicle development and effective tillering, indicating strong production potential. Farmers expressed satisfaction with its performance and shared their experiences regarding preferred traits, production constraints and advantages over traditionally cultivated local varieties.
Continuing the initiative, a Finger Millet Field Day was organised at Baghar village under Lumla Block on August 18, where 39 farmers observed the field performance of VL Mandua 376. The variety displayed vigorous crop growth, large and well-filled panicles and a good number of effective tillers.
A major advantage highlighted during the programme was its early maturity, around 25 days earlier than the commonly grown local variety, along with higher grain yield potential. The early-maturing characteristic makes VL Mandua 376 particularly suitable for Tawang’s short growing season and high-altitude farming conditions.
On the same day, a demonstration of the Vivek Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler was conducted at Phomang village, with participation of 30 farmers. The farmers were given practical demonstrations on the operation and utility of the machine for threshing and pearling finger millet.
The technology has significant potential to reduce the labour, time and physical drudgery associated with traditional manual threshing and processing, particularly for farming communities in the hill regions.
The programmes were coordinated by Dr. Kamini Bisht, Senior Scientist (Social Science), ICAR-VPKAS; Dr C K Singh, KVK Tawang; Dr R P Meena, Scientist (Agronomy), ICAR-VPKAS; and Dr M S Bhinda, Millet Breeder, who interacted extensively with farmers on varietal performance, improved crop management, suitable agronomic practices and small-scale mechanisation.
Dr Singh highlighted the growing popularity of VL Mandua 376 and the important role of farmer-to-farmer seed dissemination in expanding its cultivation.
Dr Meena emphasised appropriate agronomic interventions and mechanisation for improving productivity and profitability.
Dr Bhinda interacted with farmers to understand varietal performance and their preferred agronomic and yield traits, while Dr Bisht assessed farmers’ perceptions, adoption behaviour and socio-economic benefits associated with the improved variety.
The interactions also helped document farmers' varietal preferences, adoption patterns, production constraints and field-level impact.
The encouraging response reflects a gradual transition from initial adoption of the improved variety towards its wider cultivation and increased production in the district.
The encouraging performance of VL Mandua 376, coupled with farmers’ interest in improved mechanisation, is expected to contribute towards enhanced finger millet productivity, higher farm profitability and reduced drudgery, while strengthening millet-based livelihoods among the farming communities of Tawang district. (DIPRO)