Project News

- Lhap Dorji, Research Communications, T B Katwal, Field Crops Research and Chimi Wangchuk, RNR EC Chaskhar

Farmers in Chaskhar geog under Mongar Dzongkhag started to take up two new rice varieties - Wengkhar Rey Kap and Khangma Rey Kap this year. The varieties are promoted through the Rice Research Outreach Program of RNR RC Wengkhar, Agriculture Research and Extension Project for Mongar and Lhuentse and RNR EC Chaskhar geog. A total of 30 farmers are taking part in the program.

The objectives of the Rice Research Outreach Program 2008 in Chaskhar are:

•To introduce high yielding rice varieties
•To train and demonstrate improved crop management practices such as transplanting, fertilizer application and weedicide application etc.
•To involve farmers in evaluating new rice varieties
•To enhance the skills of extension staff in rice cultivation techniques

A series of on farm activities as shown in figure 1 will be carried out in Chaskhar involving researchers, extension agents and farmers through out the cropping season.

Nursery raised at the end of May this year was ready for transplanting by first week of July. The new varieties were transplanted on 5th July 2008 in a total of 1.5 acres wetland belonging to 3 farmers in Chaskhar. More than 25 farmers took part in transplanting led by the gup of Chaskhar along with researchers, JICA experts and geog extension staff of Chaskhar geog.

According to the concepts of the outreach programs, farmers will be trained and all management techniques will be demonstrated to them through the three farmers taking part in this year’s program. An assessment will be done at the end of the program and based on it; the geog extension centre will upscale the new varieties and cultivation techniques into other parts of Chaskhar.

Rice technology promotion through Rice Research Outreach Programs in RNR RC Wengkhar started since 2005 in Tangmachu, which later moved to Minji in 2006, Lhuentse and then in Hurung Pam and Saleng in Mongar in 2007. Due to the popularity of these varieties in the previous sites, the program is now upscaled in Chaskhar, Mongar and Phuntshothang, Samdrupjongkhar from this year.

Source: RNR RC Wengkhar News and Views Vol II, Issue 2 / CoRRB News Letter