In Panaji, the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR – CCARI) organised a workshop for women farmers. The event, which stressed diverse technology, training, and awareness programmes to make farming lucrative, drew over 60 women farmers.
The Sarpanch of the village in which this training programme was held, spoke about the importance of women in agriculture and its allied sectors and strongly highlighted their involvement in the farm to fork food production system.
ICAR scientists demonstrated plant propagation techniques such as layering, grafting and budding in mango, cashew, rose and other ornamental plants for skill-building and generating additional income. Processing and value addition to locally available fruits like jackfruit, kokum & coconut was also deliberated.
Farmers were given seed kits of enhanced vegetable types such as Red Amaranthus, Okra, Cowpea, Spinach, Brinjal, Radish, and vermicomposting bags, as well as technical instructions on scientific vegetable growing and vermicomposting know-how.
ICAR CCARI has stated that it is striving to make the Mancurad mango grown in Goa available throughout the year. He proposed tetra packaging the king of fruits to make Mancurad mangoes available even during the off-season. Kumar stated that they are striving towards a ready-to-eat project where microwavable meals can be packed and sold for animals.
About ICAR CCARI:
ICAR CCARI is one of the research institutes under Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi. ICAR is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agriculture and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
In April 1976, the ICAR Research Complex for Goa was created as a regional institution under the umbrella of the ICAR Research Complex for Northeast Hill Region in Shillong, Meghalaya. From April 1976, it was designated as the regional centre of an Independent Institute.