Nagaon additional deputy commissioner P.K. Rajkhowa (centre) during a field visit

Feb. 18: Farming experiments in Nagaon have helped peasants triple their produce this season, proving that hybrid seeds and scientific methods can ensure high yields even in unfavourable climates.

After attending a series of farming demonstrations under the National Food Security Mission on 91.2 hectares in 32 circles of the district, farmers decided to take a risk with the “unconventional” methods, since the traditional procedures had disappointed them for years.

The switch worked and the farmers reaped 12 tonnes of paddy per hectare.

The National Food Security Mission nodal officer, Pradip Buragohain, explained that the popular hybrid variety of DRRH-2 was cultivated in 37 demonstration three-bigha plots. Two more high-yielding varieties — MTU 1010 and MTU 1001 — were cultivated in 191 such experimental plots.

The farmers saw the results for themselves and decided to take a chance.

Nagaon is among 13 districts of Assam where the food security programme was launched last year.

The aim of the project is simple — increase production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis through improved technologies and farm management practices.

“We hope to arm farmers with methods that will enable them to cultivate even in trying climactic conditions and with minimum water. They must be ready to face the growing food crisis, an outcome of population explosion. The stress is mainly on motivation and awareness so that they are willing to try modern techniques,” Buragohain said.

With an agriculture belt of 217,924 hectares, Nagaon produced 245,143 metric tonnes of paddy last year.

Deputy commissioner J. Balaji said 200 such demonstration programmes would continue throughout the year.

“This year, we aim to include 20 programmes under the system of rice intensification where hybrid seeds will be cultivated using minimum water. Another 180 demonstration packages will be taken up using high-yielding varieties,” Balaji said.

He said steps were being taken to provide seeds, pesticides and farming tools at subsidised rates and arrange for free sessions to train farmers in the latest technologies.

The programme will also look into soil fertility and productivity of every farm in the district.

“We have received a very good response from the farmers as they feel that conventional way of cultivation can hardly give them the returns they deserve. We hope the new concepts will attract the younger farmers and show them the way to self-dependence,” said senior consultant of National Food Security Mission, Anunima Deb Chaudhury.