HT Correspondent
DHUBRI, July 5: In a concerted effort to enhance agricultural productivity and improve farmer livelihoods, the District Agriculture Office, Dhubri, conducted its first Farmer Training Programme on Protected Cultivation using Low-Cost Poly Houses on July 4.
The programme was held under the Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) at the Knowledge Centre in Raniganj ADO Circle, Bilasipara sub-division.
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The training aimed to familiarise farmers with modern and sustainable cultivation practices designed to increase yield and income.
Protected cultivation through poly houses offers advantages such as faster crop growth, multiple cropping cycles, and protection from weather extremes, pests, and diseases.
The technique enables farmers to grow off-season, high-value vegetables that can fetch better market prices.
The event was inaugurated by Nripen Ch Das, Director of Horticulture and Food Processing, Assam, in the presence of Kumud Haloi, Assistant Director of Agriculture, and Nipom Jyoti Dutta, Agricultural Development Officer from Khanapara, Guwahati, who also served as the technical expert for the session.
The programme began with a formal welcome and introduction of Agricultural Development Officers (ADOs), Agriculture Extension Assistants (AEAs), and participating farmers.
In his address, ADO Nipom Jyoti Dutta commended the Dhubri Agriculture Office for initiating the programme and highlighted the state government’s commitment to promoting protected cultivation practices.
District Agricultural Officer Azim Ahmed expressed gratitude to the attending farmers and urged them to take full advantage of the inputs already distributed under the HMNEH scheme, such as shed nets, UV films, and mulching materials.
A key highlight of the event was a technical session by Nipom Jyoti Dutta, who shared knowledge gained from advanced training in Israel.
His presentation covered poly house design, crop selection, best practices for yield maximisation, and the cultivation of high-value crops like capsicum and tomato.
Director Nripen Ch Das assured farmers that high-quality saplings of selected crops would be provided to those adopting protected cultivation in the district.
The event saw participation from several senior agriculture officials, including Mrinal Kanti Kachary (Assistant Director of Agriculture, Dhubri), Amzad Hussain (Sub-Divisional Agricultural Officer, Bilasipara), and ADOs Sunny Gogoi, Hemanga Das, Hiranaya Jyoti Baruah, Nayanjyoti Sarma, Deepjyoti Das, and Raktim Bhagwati.
The initiative marks a significant step toward modernising horticulture in Dhubri district and aligns with the broader objective of achieving sustainable agricultural development and doubling farmer incomes. The information was provided in an official statement.
