Gram Unnati and National Sustainable Spice Program to train farmers on sustainable coriander farming
The program witnessed the participation of 57 farmers from 25 villages of Vidisha and Gyaraspur blocks of Madhya Pradesh.
A Training of Trainers (TOT) program on coriander crop was organized at the PNB Farmers Training Institute in collaboration with Gram Unnati and the National Sustainable Spice Program (NSSP) in Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh.
The program witnessed the participation of 57 farmers from 25 villages of Vidisha and Gyaraspur blocks. Coriander NSSP field diaries and POP materials for coriander and peas were distributed by NSSP and Gram Unnati, respectively. Outstanding and start-up farmers excelling in coriander cultivation were also honoured.
The farmers were addressed by Dr Takht Singh Rajpurohit (NSSP Professor and Chief Trainer), who emphasised on the benefits of adopting integrated pest management (IPM). He explained how quality farming can be achieved at a lower cost, enabling farmers to increase their income. He also advised climate-resilient farming practices considering climate change and stressed soil and water conservation, the use of certified seeds, and soil and seed treatment using Trichoderma. Other organic measures such as neem-based sprays, vermicompost, vermiwash, and Panchagavya were discussed in detail.
Dr K. S. Khapediya (Deputy Director, Agriculture Department) suggested transitioning from wheat to coriander cultivation under the crop diversification plan. He stressed adopting crop rotation and promoting high-income crops like coriander. Additionally, he discussed selecting suitable crops, varieties, and fertilizers based on soil and water testing.
Insights from Dr. Mukul Vishnoi (Scientist, Horticulture Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Raisen) highlighted the significance of spice, medicinal, and horticultural crops and shared advanced farming techniques for their cultivation.
Gram Unnati’s Project Director Sushil Yadav educated farmers about the Package of Practices (POP) for coriander cultivation to protect crops from harmful pests and diseases. He also provided vital information on post-harvest care and advanced grading techniques (double/single parrot, eagle/scooter, etc.).
The event showcased various types of collateral/posters on coriander, IPM practices, factors affecting coriander pricing, advanced grading techniques (double/single parrot grades), and pest and disease prevention measures. Farmers expressed gratitude to Gram Unnati and NSSP for providing valuable insights into advanced coriander farming.
The program witnessed the participation of 57