Technology Demonstration Programme on Seed Treatment in Purulia District

Seed Treatment Demonstrations

          Seed Treatment is the use and application of biological or chemical agents that controls soil and seed borne infestations of insects and diseases thus maintaining the plant vigour and health. It also protects the seedlings from sucking insect pests during its initial growth. However, many farmers in the country are still unaware about this technology leading to high mortality rates of the seedlings.

According to Government reports, 70 % requirement of the seed is met from farmers own stock which go for sowing without seed treatment. As such the farmers are required to be made aware about the methods of seed treatment as well as post treatment method of handling seeds and planting material.

DPMU personnel with farmers

WBADMIP through its Agriculture Support Services is providing training in this regard to the farmers in the project areas familiarising them with various agriculture technologies for adoption. Seed treatment and seed storage has been integrated under Nursery Management  where the trainees undergoes method based technology demonstration both in the form of written and field demonstrations. There are efforts from the project officials to make a 100% adoption rate of these technologies in the Project areas.

One such Technology Demonstration Camp was organized in Raghunathpur I Block of Purulia recently with the participation of tribal farmers covering 3 blocks(Raghunathpur I, Kashipur and Santuri) .  Agriculture Specialist Mr Avijit Halder, Mr Brata Gayen, Agriculture Expert , SO Team, Sambhunath Chakraborty, Community Worker conducted the camp on behalf of DPMU Purulia.

Convincing the farmers about improved practices in agriculture is a challenging task. As such demonstrations are carried out in a systematic manner to show the worth of the technologies and management practices of the crops and  convince them about the potentialities of these improved practices for further adoption.Transferring knowledge and information to inculcate positive attitudes among farmers about improved agricultural technologies are key to agricultural development.