Agartala, 25th April 2026: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sepahijala, CAU (I), Tripura organized Field Day on Sunflower at Uttar Charilam, Charilam block, Sepahijala yesterday. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr Anupam Mishra, Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Imphal and under the technical guidance of Dr. Ng. Iboyaima, Director, Directorate of Extension Education, CAU, Imphal; Dr. A. K Mohanty, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone VII, Umiam, Meghalaya; Dr. R. K. Mathur, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad; Dr Th. Robindro Singh, Professor, CAU, Imphal and Dr Aziz Qureshi, Principal Scientist, IIOR, Hyderabad. The programme was organized under the guidance of Prof Arun Bhai Patel, Dean, College of Fisheries, Lembucherra and supervision of Dr Shatabhisa Sarkar, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK, Sepahijala.
The programme was organized to create awareness among farmers, farm women, and rural youth regarding the scientific cultivation practices of sunflower. The specific objectives were to enhance knowledge on improved production technologies, demonstrate the performance of sunflower under the agro-climatic conditions, impart training on recommended cultivation practices, and promote understanding of marketing channels through value addition.
The programme was inaugurated by Supriya Das Datta, Sabhadhipati, Sepahijala Zilla Parishad; Khela Bhowmik, Chairperson, Charilam Panchayat Samiti in presence of Dr. Shatabhisa Sarkar, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK, Sepahijala, Tripura and Dr Utpal Dey, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK, Sepahijala and others.
Supriya Das Datta, Sabhadhipati, Sepahijala Zilla Parishad, urged farmers to adopt scientific sunflower cultivation and expand its acreage to enhance oilseed production. She also highlighted the potential of sunflower-based eco-tourism and its role in moving towards self-sufficiency in edible oils.
Dr. Shatabhisa Sarkar, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK, Sepahijala, Tripura, encouraged farmers to expand the area under oilseed crops such as sunflower and sesame. She emphasized the importance of crop diversification for improving farm income and soil health. She also highlighted the potential of these crops in enhancing edible oil self-sufficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
Dr. Utpal Dey, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK, Sepahijala, elaborated on scientific cultivation practices and suitable sunflower hybrid for Sepahijala district. He also emphasized eco-friendly pest and disease management along with income enhancement opportunities through agri-based ecotourism. A total of 47 farmers, farm women, and rural youth actively participated in the programme, interacted with the specialists, and expressed keen interest in adopting scientific sunflower cultivation. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Utpal Dey, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK, Sepahijala.
