ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Srinagar - Report on PGR Awareness Camp/Biodiversity Fair organized at Larnoo Anantnag on 29-03-2016

PGR Awareness Camp/Biodiversity Fair was successfully organized under TSP programme at Larnoo, Kokernag, Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) on 29th March 2016 with the help of Mountain Crop Research Station (SKUAST-K) Larnoo and Mountain Research Center for Field Crops (SKUAST-K) Khudwani, Anantnag.Larnoo area is more than 100 kms from Srinagar inhabited mostly by tribal people.Following is a brief report on the event:

 
The programme started in the morning with registration of farmers.115 farmers attended the camp including  2 women.After welcoming the farmers  and other guests I gave a detailed introduction about ICAR-NBPGR and the objectives of conducting the camp.I also talked about local PGR especially rice landraces, local maize and walnuts for which the entire Kokernag area is famous throughout the state.Dr Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Sr. Scientist and Incharge of Larnoo Station gave a detailed account about local varieties of rice and maize and also explained IPR to the farmers stressing on the need for registration of farmer varieties and unique local germplasm.Dr Nazir Ahmad Teli, Scientist from the same station talked about walnuts and ‘Maharaji’ apple cultivated in the area especially their disease resistence.Dr. M. Ashraf, Scientist from Khudwani Station explained to the farmers how local rice landraces have been purified and disease resistant type has been developed.He also talked about local Kashmiri chilli.Dr. F.A. Misger, Scientist from main SKUAST (K) Shalimar Srinagar campus interacted with farmers about local PGR; their importance, advantages especially their taste and need for their protection.One local knowledgeable farmer Mr. Bashir A. Malik also spoke on the occasion and termed the awareness camp as highly informative and remembered crops like ‘Ping’ (Minor millet), ‘Shol’ (Fox tail millet) and ‘Trumba’ (Buckwheat) once cultivated in the area but nowhere seen now.Sarpanch of nearby Dandipora locality Haji Atta-u-Rehman also talked about some traditional crops very rarely cultivated now.He highlighted the need for promotion of maize and walnut crops growing in the area for being superior in taste and raised without the use of fertilizers.He himself and on behalf of the farmers of entire area was highly thankful to ICAR-NBPGR for organizing such informative camp in this far-flung backward area.Finally, I presented the vote of thanks. 

During the camp light refreshment/lunch was served to the farmers and other guests and 100 sets of petty agricultural implements (two rambas, one tangroo, one serrated sickle and one grafting/budding knife) procured from Joint Directorate Agricultural Engineering, Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir Shalimar Srinagar workshop were distributed among the farmers.The event was got video/photographed.

Some local/national media covered the event and then interviewed me about the objectives and need for holding this awareness camp.
      
Total budget sanctioned for the event              :   1, 27,000/- (One lac and twenty seven thousand only)
Actual expenditure for organizing the event    :   1, 00,482/- (One lac four hundred and  eighty two only)