Climate-resilient technologies will be demonstrated at a two-day agricultural technology meet to be held at the Rice Research Station at Mancompu from September 17. The programme is being organised by Kayamkulam-based Krishi Vignan Kendra of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The kendra has been engaged in efforts to improve the earnings of farmers in the area, which is known for flooding and waterlogging. Measures to upgrade farming methods were adopted at various levels during the past four year in Muttar panchayat. The panchayat had been selected for implementing the programmes under the National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture Technologies, said P.Muralidharan, senior scientist and head of KVK. The schemes launched in the panchayat focused on adoption of appropriate technology to facilitate successful farming in areas threatened by flooding. The programmes, aimed at resource conservation and improved production, are sought to be extended to Champakkulam and Veliyanadu block panchayats. Mr. Muralidharan said heavy rainfall, flash floods, high speed winds and watrerlogging used to be a bane of Kuttanad farmers. Inundation of paddy fields and lodging of the crop at grain filling and maturity stages cause huge losses to the farmer. Then innovative technologies were intended to tackle such problems. One of the innovations launched at Muttar was the ‘drum seeder’. It was introduced for sowing, which optimised the use of seeds. The systematic sowing operations also helped the farmers in tackling the menace of weeds more effectively. The harvesting operations took lesser time, thus benefiting the farmer as the harvesters were charged on an hourly basis. The farmers adopting the innovative methods get an additional profit of Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000 per acre, Mr. Muralidharan said. Acidity control of the soil and scientific application of fertilizers and pesticides were part of the schemes for optimizing farm output. Innovative methods for poultry farming suited to areas prone to flooding, weed composting and value addition to farm products have been successfully demonstrated in Muttar. About 140 farmers were brought under the programme, covering about 60 hectares, he said. Agriculture technology meet begins on Sept.17 ‘Drum seeder’ optimises use of seeds