Training and Awareness programme on Riverbed Cultivation of Cucurbitaceous Vegetables

26^st July, 2017, Varanasi

A one-day training and awareness programme on riverbed cultivation of cucurbitaceous vegetables was organized by ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi for improving the cultivation practices and increasing the yield of cucurbits grown on riverbeds.

Dr B Singh, Director, ICAR-IVRI urged the farmers to utilize modern practices for riverbed cultivation to get better yield. He advocated the use of improved varieties, solar operated or gravitational drip irrigation system, shed net for protection from high temperature and hot winds. He also suggested to cover the crops with polythene during winter to raise the crop canopy temperature. The Director further stressed on the possibilities of organic farming of cucurbit vegetables in riverbeds.

Participants were trained on the ideal cultivation practices for various cucurbitaceous vegetables and technologies to manage insect pests and diseases in these crops.

The training programme was sponsored by UP council of agricultural research, Lucknow under the project “Evaluation of high yielding varieties and hybrids of cucurbit vegetables and standardization of their agro-techniques”.

More than 60 farmers participated in the programme from various parts of Varanasi, Mirjapur and Gonda district residing near the riverbed areas of the Ganga and Ghaghara.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi)