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Success stories on the significant achievements of the KVK.

A. Khasi mandarin:

Tinsukia district is situated in prime zone for production of Khasi mandarin. Amongst the various districts of North East India, Tinsukia district produces the highest quantity of Khasi mandarin having largest area under it. The Khasi mandarin produced in Tinsukia district is very famous for its superior quality. However, it became a major concern due to sharp progressive decline in production and area under Khasi mandarin during the last few years in the district. Under KVK, Tinsukia, PRA was conducted and the problems of Khasi mandarin cultivation in the district were screened. Accordingly, the thrust areas were identified and training programmes for the Khasi mandarin growers were formulated. Nos. of training programme was conducted covering the Khasi mandarin growers of all the 3 sub-division of the district. Few declining orchards in strategic locations were adopted wherein all the improved production technology on Khasi mandarin including the crop protection measures developed by Citrus Research Station,Assam Agricultural University, Tinsukia was applied. As a result, in the declining Khasi mandarin orchards, pest & diseases were controlled, health of the plant improved and also the yield of the orchards gradually improved resulting in increased income of the farmers. The average increased in yield in these rejuvenated orchards was more than 25 % during the reported period. This resulted in increase in income of the Khasi mandarin growers to the tune of Rs.22,500/- to Rs. 30,000/- per ha in different rejuvenated Khasi mandarin orchards.

This effort of KVK, Tinsukia motivated the farmers to adopt the scientific methods of Khasi mandarin cultivation and to take up cultivation of these crops for higher economic return. As a result, both production and area under Khasi mandarin in Tinsukia district started improving. The recent survey report of the State Agriculture Department revealed that there was a record increase of over 20% area under Khasi mandarin in the district during the reported period.

B. Rice:

Lack of knowledge on suitable varieties of rice and unavailability of their seeds in the district were two of the major problems identified. More than 8000 kg seeds of HYV of rice developed by AAU, Jorhat and recommended for the zone were brought from other Zonal Agricultural Research Station and supplied to the needy farmers covering all the three Sub Division of the district.

There was an increase in area (3%) of winter rice during the year. This results an increase of production from 88309 tons to 98552 tons in the district. As a result of the efforts of KVK, Tinsukia there was a substantial change in the attitude of the farmers' methods of cultivation and use of HYV etc. The area under HYV of rice was increased to more than 40% during the reported period as compared to previous years.