Press Release
PRESS RELEASE FROM KVK NAMTHANG NAMCHI DISTRICT
Information & Public Relations Department
Farmer-Scientist Interaction Programme and Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) Meeting Held at KVK South Sikkim
Namchi, 25 April:
The two-day Farmer-Scientist Interaction Programme and Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) Meeting was held at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Sikkim from 25th to 26th April 2025. The QRT, constituted by the Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, convened to review the research progress and achievements of the ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management (ICAR-NRIIPM), New Delhi.
The QRT was chaired by Dr. P.K. Chakrabarty, Former Member, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), DARE, New Delhi. The esteemed members of the team included Dr. S.K. Chakrabarti, Former Vice Chancellor, UBKV; Dr. H.B. Singh, Former Professor and Head, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, BHU; Dr. R.K. Gupta, Former Professor and Head, Division of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST; Dr. Mohinder Singh, Former Principal Scientist, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan; Dr. Raaman Thangavelu, Director, ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi; and Dr. P.N. Meena, QRT Member Secretary and Senior Scientist, ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi.
Also present were several senior scientists from ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi, including Dr. Ajanta Birah, Dr. Jitender Singh, Dr. Sumitra Arora, Dr. Surender Kumar Singh, Dr. M.N. Bhatt, Dr. Niranjan Singh (all Principal Scientists), and Dr. Rekha Balodi, Scientist. Local officials and representatives included Mr. Yograj Pradhan, ADO, STL Namthang; Ms. Meena Sharma, ADO, Namthang Block; Ms. Choeki Sherpa, HDO, Namthang Block; along with all technical staff from KVK South Sikkim.
The programme commenced with the formal welcome of dignitaries, followed by the Farmer-Scientist Interaction Session in the first half. Farmers from various FPOs such as Ruchung, Perbing, Passi, Bermiok Tokal, Ganchung, and Rong Bul actively participated. The farmers presented the challenges they faced, which were addressed by the scientists through discussions on relevant technologies and solutions.
A special felicitation ceremony was held to honour outstanding farmers. Shri Gopal Gurung from Ruchung was recognized as the Best IPM Practicing Farmer, while Shri Prem Tiwari, CEO of Passi FPO, received an award for Excellence in FPO Leadership. ATMA, Namchi district, also awarded Shri C.B. Tamang for Best Practices in Maize (HYV) cultivation, provided seed money support to the SHG Kateng, and presented the “Farmers First” award to Pem Phuti of Ruchung. IPM kits were also distributed to the participating farmers.
In the second session, the QRT reviewed the research activities and achievements of ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi, and KVK South Sikkim, particularly focusing on the project "Validation and Wide Area Promotion of IPM in Horticulture Crops" under the NEH programme. Senior Scientist and Head of KVK South Sikkim, Shri I.P. Shivakoti, presented the progress report. The session also included in-depth discussions on key outcomes, challenges, and future research priorities, leading to the finalization of recommendations by the review team.
On the second day, the programme will feature a field visit by the QRT members and scientists to various project-implemented villages to assess the on-ground impact and interactions with beneficiary farmers.
Namchi, 25 April:
The two-day Farmer-Scientist Interaction Programme and Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) Meeting was held at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Sikkim from 25th to 26th April 2025. The QRT, constituted by the Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, convened to review the research progress and achievements of the ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management (ICAR-NRIIPM), New Delhi.
The QRT was chaired by Dr. P.K. Chakrabarty, Former Member, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), DARE, New Delhi. The esteemed members of the team included Dr. S.K. Chakrabarti, Former Vice Chancellor, UBKV; Dr. H.B. Singh, Former Professor and Head, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, BHU; Dr. R.K. Gupta, Former Professor and Head, Division of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST; Dr. Mohinder Singh, Former Principal Scientist, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan; Dr. Raaman Thangavelu, Director, ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi; and Dr. P.N. Meena, QRT Member Secretary and Senior Scientist, ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi.
Also present were several senior scientists from ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi, including Dr. Ajanta Birah, Dr. Jitender Singh, Dr. Sumitra Arora, Dr. Surender Kumar Singh, Dr. M.N. Bhatt, Dr. Niranjan Singh (all Principal Scientists), and Dr. Rekha Balodi, Scientist. Local officials and representatives included Mr. Yograj Pradhan, ADO, STL Namthang; Ms. Meena Sharma, ADO, Namthang Block; Ms. Choeki Sherpa, HDO, Namthang Block; along with all technical staff from KVK South Sikkim.
The programme commenced with the formal welcome of dignitaries, followed by the Farmer-Scientist Interaction Session in the first half. Farmers from various FPOs such as Ruchung, Perbing, Passi, Bermiok Tokal, Ganchung, and Rong Bul actively participated. The farmers presented the challenges they faced, which were addressed by the scientists through discussions on relevant technologies and solutions.
A special felicitation ceremony was held to honour outstanding farmers. Shri Gopal Gurung from Ruchung was recognized as the Best IPM Practicing Farmer, while Shri Prem Tiwari, CEO of Passi FPO, received an award for Excellence in FPO Leadership. ATMA, Namchi district, also awarded Shri C.B. Tamang for Best Practices in Maize (HYV) cultivation, provided seed money support to the SHG Kateng, and presented the “Farmers First” award to Pem Phuti of Ruchung. IPM kits were also distributed to the participating farmers.
In the second session, the QRT reviewed the research activities and achievements of ICAR-NRIIPM, New Delhi, and KVK South Sikkim, particularly focusing on the project "Validation and Wide Area Promotion of IPM in Horticulture Crops" under the NEH programme. Senior Scientist and Head of KVK South Sikkim, Shri I.P. Shivakoti, presented the progress report. The session also included in-depth discussions on key outcomes, challenges, and future research priorities, leading to the finalization of recommendations by the review team.
On the second day, the programme will feature a field visit by the QRT members and scientists to various project-implemented villages to assess the on-ground impact and interactions with beneficiary farmers.