Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 November 2025
The Department of Agriculture, through the Union Territory Agriculture Technology Management Agency (UTATMA), Mayabunder, successfully concluded a four-month-long Farm School on Paddy programme that commenced on July 12.
The initiative aimed to enhance local rice productivity through sustainable practices, reduce dependence on imported rice, and strengthen the livelihoods of island farmers by promoting scientific farming techniques and ensuring access to quality seeds.
The farm school was conducted at the field of Ms. Kamla Kullu in Rampur village, where the ANR47 seed variety was cultivated over an area of one hectare. Participants received hands-on training covering various stages of paddy cultivation, including seedbed preparation, nursery management, transplanting methods, nutrient measurement, fertiliser application, integrated pest management, weed control, crop growth monitoring, and record keeping.
The final sessions focused on harvesting, threshing, drying, and storage, providing a holistic understanding of post-harvest management. Inputs were distributed to key farmers following the completion of the training.
An interactive session was also held at the end of the programme to address farmers’ queries related to departmental schemes and other agricultural issues. Around 25 to 30 participants, including farmers, Farmer Friends, departmental officials, and ATMA staff, took part in the programme with great enthusiasm.
