In a bid to boost the income of farmers, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)-backed Raijor Dal has pushed for a three-time cropping year with a zero tillage farming method.
The newly floated party has mobilized several local groups in upper Assam’s Jorhat district for this purpose.
Raijor Dal advisor Tridip Dutta said that the first group of four farmers has been initiated in this method at Dulia Gaon in Teok constituency.
The next group which was trained was near the Gorokhia Dewalaya at Malow Ali.
“The method entails planting potatoes on harvested paddy fields. There is no need to plough at all. The standing straw covers the potatoes and when it decomposes it works as compost. The roots also retain water. There is three times more productions than the traditional methods,” Dutta said.
He further said that it was high time that the potato crop was planted.
“After we went on the field several farmers have evinced interest in the method and we will give training to more such groups,” he said.
Dutta further said that next, they would be taking up the planting of lentils (mosur dali) which can also be grown easily.
“This promotion of three crops annually is one of the agendas of Raijor Dal. We are helped by consultants like Mahendra Khanikar, agriculture development officers, and a scientist of Assam Agricultural University Nitul Saikia, who is an expert on potatoes,” Dutta further said.