Farmer-Scientist Interface on Coastal Agriculture at Kumarakom, Kerala

3rd January 2025, Kerala

ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, organized a farmer-scientist interface at Kumarakom, Kerala in collaboration with the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Kumarakom under the Scheduled- Caste- Sub-Plan, here today.

Farmers in the Kuttanad-Kumarakom region, with small farm holdings, engage in homestead vegetable gardens, duck rearing, poultry, and fish farming. A session on organic pest and disease management in vegetables was conducted, followed by an exposure visit to a research farm, fish farming units, and a public aquarium. Farmers discussed challenges, particularly increased disease incidence in crops and livestock due to climate change. Scientists from ICAR-CCARI and RARS provided solutions, and inputs like vegetable seedlings, seeds, tissue culture bananas, pheromone traps, bio-control agents, compost, barrels, and feed were distributed to farmers.

The programme was coordinated by Dr Simi Rose Andrews, Assistant Professor (Aquaculture), Dr Sini Thomas K, Assistant Professor (Plant Physiology) from RARS, and Dr Sreekanth GB.

A total of 30 scheduled caste farmers attended the programme.

(Source: ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa)