Organized Training cum Inputs Distribution Programme under FLD-Pigeonpea at RARS, Warangal on 16-06-2021

AICRP on pigeon pea, RARS, Warangal has organized awareness cum training programme as a part of Front Line Demonstration (FLD) at RARS, Warangal on 16.06.2021. The programme was chaired by Dr. R. Uma Reddy, ADR, RARS, Warangal. ADR apprised the farmers to cultivate different pulse crops in the state and urged the farmers to increase the red gram area and to enhance the production to meet the consumption demand of the State. He said that at present, area wise redgram is going to be the third largest crop in the state after rice and cotton crops. Being a legume, pigeon pea fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil and also add organic matter into the soil in the form of leaf litter and require less fertilizer for subsequent crops. Further ADR advised the farmers to implement the front line demonstration with a competitive spirit for getting higher yields and to popularize the technology demonstrated. Afterwards, Dr. M. Balaram, Associate Dean, Agriculture College, Warangal, who was the guest at the event, said that pigeon pea is an ideal crop to cultivate with low investment and getting high returns. Dr. N. Sandya Kishore, Scientist (Pl. Breeding) gave information on recently released high yielding, wilt resistant red gram varieties and characteristics of the varieties viz., WRGE-121, Warangal kandi-1 (WRGE-97), Telangana kandi-1 (WRGE-93) and Rudreshwara (WRG-65). Later FLD-incharge Dr. M. Madhu, Scientist (Agronomy) briefed about seeds and sowing, weed management, fertilizer and water management, intercultivation and harvest of the crop. Dr. D. Veeranna, Scientist (Entomology) explained about pest management in Pigeonpea, later Dr. G. Padmaja, Scientist (Plant Pathology) explained about disease management in pigeonpea and demonstrated the farmers about seed treatment with fungicides, insecticides and Rhizobium culture inoculation. Later, FLD farmers of last year shared their experience. At the end of the programme, distributed inputs viz., Red gram seeds, Herbicides, Bio-fertlizers/ bio-fungicides viz., Tricoderma viridae, Rhizobium culture and PSB to the beneficiary famers. In this programme, MAO, Geesukonda, Shri. Hari Prasad, A.E.O. Vijay Naik and about 50 farmers from different mandals of Station Ghanpur, Chilpur, Geesukonda, Damera and Zafargad of Warangal Urban, Warangal Rural and Jangoan districts were participated.