Field Day on Safflower Cultivation in Non-Traditional Area of Adilabad District on 27th February, 2020

District agricultural advisory and transfer of technology (DAATTC), Adilabad conducted a field day on safflower cultivation in non-traditional area at village Tejapur, Neridigonda mandal of Adilabad district on 27th February, 2020. Programme coordinator Dr. D. Mohan das addressed the gathering and delivered the welcomed remarks to the farmers. He expressed that Adilabad district farmers were facing severe menace of wild boar and other vertebrate pests, which are the main culprits of crop yield loss of maize, cotton, Bengal gam etc., in many areas especially those near to forest. He also mentioned that some farmers of non-traditional safflower growing areas are keeping their land fallow in rabi mostly after removal of soybean due to lack of irrigation source. So he suggested farmers to cultivate safflower crop in such situations as it grows with residual soil moisture and provides additional income to the farmers. He also stressed on the role of safflower crop against vertebrate pest damage, as its fragrance at early stage and thorns at later stage protects the crop from wild boar damage. Dr. D. Veeranna, scientist crop protection explained about the pest and disease incidence in safflower crop and their management. He advised the farmers to cultivate safflower crop as a border crop around maize/sorghum/Bengal gram etc., in 4-5 rows to avoid the damage caused due to wild boar and other vertebrate pests. He asked the host farmer to provide his feedback, farmer Venkataramana Reddy shared his experience on package of practice of safflower cultivation, he sown the safflower crop (P.B.N.S-12) with the advisory of DAATTC, Scientist. He expressed that safflower crop is very much suitable to cultivate in Adilabad region with residual soil moisture, and it is also very remunerative to farmers with low cost of cultivation. He said harvesting and marketing of safflower crop are the main reasons for less adoption. Dr. M. Sampath kumar scientist transfer of technology provided the importance of safflower crop and its use as leafy vegetable, cosmetics, medicinal values, edible oil etc. and shared the market availability of safflower crop and its harvesting methodology. Officials from department of agriculture, and 35 farmers from adjacent two villages were participated and made the programme successful.