Farmers Recognise Value of Interfaces in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

The series of 20 farmer interfaces organised in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha States during the period October to December 2016 helped in reaching out a vast section of spices farmers in the region. Experts in crop management, progressive farmers growing spices likechiUies, turmeric, ginger, pepper and curry leaves got together to discuss in detail the challenges the fanning sector have been facing in these areas. The new initiative of the Spices Board to ensure farm and fmmer traceability was also explained in these interactions and the farmers had shown signs of acceptance as they felt the real value of it.

Interactions were held in the districts of Guntur, Prakasam and Vizag in Andhra Pradesh and in the districts of Koraput and Khandmal and Bhubaneswar in Odisha. Farmers in the villages of Madarapalli , Padda Mallavm·am, J.C. Agraharam, Thokapalli and B. Nidumanur, Ayyannapalem and Bobbepally in Prakasam district and farmers in Achampeta, Suggunalenka, Thumulutu, Koyavm·ipaelm, Guntur and Nutakki in Guntur district had the advantage of shm·ing their problems and seeking redressals too. In the distlict of Vizag, the Integrated Tlibal Development Agency m·eas of Padetu became the venue to discuss on the problems mld prospects in pepper. The meeting was attended by tribal farmers who are into coffee cultivation.

We conducted the farmer training programmes (FIP) on Chilli and 1\umelic in Guntur mld Prakasam Districts of Andhra Pradesh in accordallce with the e­Spice Bazaar Project and in its coverage areas. Among the 8 FTPsconducted for the Chilli fanners two were specifically for the women farmers in accordance with the insttuctions and guidelines from Spices Board Head Office.

The meetings on Chilli and Turmeric in Andhtra Pradesh focused mainly on the e-Spice bazaar Traceability project and explaining to the fmmers the importance of the project and providing training on the working of the project and how to use e-Spice

_ 26 January2017

bazam·. The meetings also emphasized on the quality Production, Good Agricultural Practices, Marketing of the produce, Pesticide residues, Aflatoxins, etc.

The Market Linkage Programme was conducted in Guntur for Chilli and Turmeric, as Guntur is a milior centre for both the crops. Many Exporters, Hortic ulture officials, AMC Chairman, AMC Secretm-y, traders, NGO members and farmers were invited for the programme. Exporters like ITC emphasized on the expOlt market and Importers like Mr. Jamson Chow, Teja Chilli (HK) Pvt Ltcl focused on producing quality Chilli . Quality aspects presentations were made and appreciated by all present and also some interactive sessions were held for the fmmers. Tracler training programmes were also held in the same vein and quality aspects ofChiUi were emphasized on. Master training programme was held

Date Location

, I 16-10-20161

Madarapalli, Prakasam

I: ' 17-10-20 16 Atchampeta, Guntur I i

22-10-2016 Dedda Mallavaram, Prakasam

4 24- 10-20 16 JC Agraharam, Prakasam

5 29- 10-2016 Suggunalanka, Guntur

6 03-11-2016 Thumuluru, Guntur

7 1 05-11-2016 Thokapalli, Prakasam

8 14-11 -20 16 ' B Nidamanuru, Prakasam I

9 , , 15-11-2016 Koyavaripalem, Guntur

101

17- 11-2016,

11 24-11-2016 1

I '

Ayyanpalem, Prakasam

AMC, Guntur

AMC, Guntur ' 12 25-11-2016 '

131

Ii

:1 1 :81 , I

IJ 2d

26-11-2016, AMC, Guntur I

30-11-2016, Paderu , Visakhapatnam

1 03-12-2016

1

Koraput

06-12-20161 Daringbadi, Kandhamal

09-12-201611 Bhubaneswar

14-12-2016 Guntur 1

16-12-20161 Martur, Prakasam

17-12-2016 Nutakki, Guntur

State Crop- Theme ~ -----------

Andhra Pradesh Farmer training programme Chilli

Andhra Pradesh Farmer training programme Chilli

Andhra Pradesh 'Farmer training programme Chilli women

Andhra Pradesh Farmer training programme Chilli

Andhra Pradesh Farmer training progranU11e Turmeric

Andhra Pradesh 1 Farmer training programme Turmeric ,

Andhra Pradesh Farmer training programme Chilli - Women I

Andhra Pradesh Fanner training programme Chilli

I Andhra Pradesh I Farmer training programme Chilli

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

, Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh I

I Odisha Farmer

Odisha Farmer

Odisha Organic

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Farmer training programme Chilli

Market Linkage Chilli & Turmeric

Trader Training Programme Chilli

Master training Programme Chilli & lInneric

Market Linkage Black Pepper

Training programme Ginger

I Training programme Turmeric

Seminar and training to growers

Organic Seminar and training to growers

Regional Seminar Chilli

Regional Seminar Turmeric

for Horticulture Officials of the State Government where the role ofFPO's in the agriculture sector and their scope was emphasized upon by NABARD, Quality aspects relating to Chilli and numeric were deliberated upon. Focus was given on organic and safe food production and also training on e-Spice bazaar traceability project was provided.

programme organized by Spices Board Field Office, Paderu in coordination with ITDA Paderu. We were assisted by Mr. T.A. Paul, Extension Assistant in visiting fields and conducting the Progranune.

We then visited Koraput to take part in the famer training progranune held for Ginger in Koraput, Odisha by Ms. M.B. Geetha, Extension Assistant, Spices board, Field office, Koraput, and the focus was on Organic production and post harvest operations in Ginger, Dr. PaI'Surarn Sian, OIC,AlCRP, Hill reseaI'ch station, Pottangi, OUAT, focused on Organic faIming, Deputy Director Mr. LingaI'ajaAchaIya urged faImers to have patience and go for post harvest operations for better quality produce.

Our team comprising of Dr. P.S.S. Thampi, Deputy Director, Mr. Yishwabhushan Joshi, Field Officer and Mr. Sudeep Jose, Agriculture Demonstrator staIted for PadelU, VisakhapatnaIn for conducting the MaI'ket Linkage Programme for Black Pepper in PadelU. We held meeting with Girijan Cooperative Corporation, Gov!. of Andhra Pradesh which is working for the development of Tribal Farmers, and is focusing on Coffee. We participated in the Market Linkage

Then along with Ms. Geetha, we travelled to DaI'ingbadi in Kandhamal District where the meeting

Jallual'y2017 27 _

was organized by Field Office in Koraput in association with KASAM, a prominent FPO. There the focus was on organic farming of Turmeric and post harvest quality production, which was linked to marketability and better price. Later we visited organic farms and processing unit of KASAM.

We came to Bhubaneswar for organizing an organic falming training and seminal' on the 9~ December 2016 in cooperation with Directorate of ExpOtt Promotion & Marketing, Govt. of Odisha and KASAM, Kandhalnal.ln the seminal' cum training deliberations on Organic Farming of Spices and Marketing, Dr. Parsuram Sian spoke on farming, post harvest management, etc. Exporters like Aricha, Plantrich, Esskay foods, Ruchi, etc. deliberated on marketing and expOtt of organic spices and their scope in future.

We conducted organic farming training on 14'" December 2016 at Guntur Goshala at New Guntur for NGO, farmers, etc. Mr. Sundaraman Iyer,

progressive organic falmerfrom Tamilnadu spoke on the development ofIndigenous preparations from cow dung, cow mine etc for their use in organic agriculture, demonstrations were also arranged. Deputy Director HOtticulture Guntur Gov!. of Andlull Pradesh also took part along with scientist from LAMFARM and NIPHM who spoke on the use of organisms and their use in Agriculture.

Regional Seminars on Chilli and Turmeric were conducted on 16'" and 17'" December 2016 in Bobbepalli, Martur, Prakasam and Nutakki, Guntur respectively where we had experience sharing by Mr. Sundaraman Iyer and demonstrations etc along with deliberations from Scientist LAMFARM on Organic Farming. Visits to field were also arranged.

We are planning to conduct the trader training programme forTUlmeric in Duggirala, Guntur and the FarmerTraining programme on Tamal'ind in Anatapur in the month of January 2017.

Regional Seminar at Thandigudi

Dr. A.B. Remas"ree semillar at r"alldiglldi

Field Office, Batlagundu conducted a Regional Seminar on Spices at Regional Coffee Research Station, Thandigudi on November 10, 2016.

Training Programme at North Regu

Training programme on Large Cardamom was organized by Divisional office, Spices Board, Tadong for women growers at North Regu, East Sikkim on 1" December 2016.

28 January 2017

D r. A .B . Remas h ree, Director (Dev & Res) inaugurated the seminar. Dr. P. Pe rinbam , D y. Director, Spices Board presided over the function. Dr. Abdul Rahiman, Dy. Director RC RS, Thandigudi spoke at the seminar. Mr. M.A. Ansar Ali , ICRI, Dr. A .K.

Vijayan, ICRI & Dr. P. Natarajan, ICRI handled technical sessions. The General discussion led by Dr. P. Natarajan and Mr. M.A. Ansar Ali. More than 120 spice farmers attended the seminar.

Mr. K.B. Gurung, President, Regu Panchayat, Mr. S.T. Bhulia, Addl. Director, HCCD Department, Govt. of Sikkim, Dr. K. Dhanapal, Deputy Director, ICRI, Spices Board , Mr. Jugal Das, Assistant Director, Spices Board. Mr. C.S. Ghatani, Assistant Director, Spices Board explained the situation on large cardamom and its prospectus.