Bhubaneswar: Scientists at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Khurda, have been able to successfully take on board several farmers from the district for using poly bags to cultivate yam in terrains which are otherwise not suitable for its cultivation.
Yam is an important tuber crop cultivated in Ganjam, Kandhamal, Khurda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal districts of the state.
The tribals of Odisha are fond of tuber crops and the forest is rich in wild tubers used both for food and medicinal purposes. However, its cultivation is not feasible in many areas.
Scientists from the Khurda KVK who worked hard to provide training to farmers in the last two years are now getting good feedback from farmers who have shifted to yam cultivation through the ‘sack technology.’ They believe that the conventional method of yam farming in dry areas used to affect its output.
“Ground planting of yam in ill drained soils leads to rotting and is labour intensive. Yam can be cultivated in poly bags filled with the desired kind of soil by the farmer. This method is less labour intensive and it makes harvest easy while the crop suffers minimum damage during harvesting and can also be done on rooftops,” KVK Khurda, Head and Senior Scientist PN Ananth told Orissa POST.
In 2016-17, KVK tested this technique and the results were encouraging. The yield of yam in gunny bags was found to be 223.5 quintal/hectare as compared to those planted in ill-drained soil which had an average yield of 204.9 quintal/hectare. However, the importance is that labour requirement is less and there is no damage during harvesting.
What is sack technology?
This is a kind of technology in which farmers put suitable soil and other important supplementary items in poly bags and grow the yam in that. This ensures proper utilisation of water and the farmer gets healthy yams with stiff straight roots. This method ensures quality and threats are minimum.