STRATEGY TO ENHANCE OILSEEDS AND PULSES IN MEGHALAYA DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE, MEGHALAYA, SHILLONG

INTRODUCTION Pulses have not become widely popular in the State. It occupy a smaller share in the area and production under food-grains. The annual average area is 8018 Ha with a production of 11,493 MT and the average yield of 1433 Kg/ Ha. The types of pulses grown in the State are Bengal gram, Black Gram, Green Gram, Soyabean and Pigeon Pea (also called Red gram or Arhar). Other pulses grown are Cowpea, Pea, Lentil and Rajma.

DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PULSES GROWN IN MEGHALAYA Lentil : HUL-57,T-36,PL-6,PL-8,,NDL-1,DPL- 62,Moitree Soybean : JS-335. Black gram : T-9, Kalindi, PD-4. Green gram : T-44, K-85, Samrat,Uttara.

VALUE ADDITION IN PULSES Fermented Soya bean: In Garo Hills it is used as flavor in one of the Garo popular dish. In Khasi and Jaintia Hills the fermented Soya Is used as Chatni.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF PULSES Pulses are very high in fibre, containing both soluble and insoluble fibres. Soluble fibre helps to decrease blood cholesterol levels and control blood sugar levels, and insoluble fibre helps with digestion and regularity. Pulses provide important amounts of vitamins and mineral. Some of the key minerals in pulses include iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc. Pulses are also particularly abundant in B vitamins including folate, thiamin and niacin. Pulses typically contain about twice the amount of protein found in whole grain cereals like wheat, oats, barley and rice Finally, pulses are an important source of proteins and in most developing countries constitute the main source of protein for most populations.

STRATEGIES In case of failures of rains, the crop should be irrigated. In case of heavy rains, water should be drained off from the field, otherwise it will damage the crop. In case of summer sowing, regular irrigations at an interval of days may be given to the crop. Summer crop requires 2 irrigations under heavy soil, 3 under medium and 4 under light soil conditions. Last irrigation should be given at pod formation stage.

ENHANCING PULSES AREA UNDER RICE- FALLOWS Opportunities: Over 500,000 ha of rice-fallows exist in NE states Challenges: Water logging in rainy season Delay in sowing of post-rainy crops in rice-fallows due to late harvesting of rice Poor plant establishment Drought and heat stresses in post-rainy season Acidic soils Stray cattle

ENHANCING ADOPTION OF IMPROVED CULTIVARS AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES Knowledge empowerment of farmers Ensuring input supplies, particularly seed of improved cultivars Farmer participatory trials for selection of improved technologies by the farmers

OILSEEDS Introduction : The most important oilseed crops grown in the State are Rape and Mustard. The bulk of production of Rape and Mustard is in Garo Hills, which constitutes up to 96% and 97% of the Area and Production under oilseeds respectively. Other oilseed crops are Groundnut, Soyabean, Sesamum, Castor, Linseed and Sunflower. Total Area and Production of oilseeds is Ha( ) and total production is M.T. respectively.

The scope for expansion of area under oilseeds is truly large. It is expected that with a concerted thrust given to double and multiple cropping strategy, the cultivation of oilseed crops would propagate into an established agricultural practice in the State.

VARIETIES GROWN * Mustard - M-3, M-18, M-27 * Groundnut - J.L-24, Girnar-1 and TG-1A * Sesamum - Local selection * Castor - G.C.H-3, Aruna, NPH-1 * Sunflower - E.C , 68415, 69874,

STRATEGIES Advanced preparation of seed rolling plan Ensure availability of -Quality seed for each season -Formulate programme of identifying genuine growers -Training farmers to the registered growers in each a district of the state for seed production Maintenance of seed purity and quality through regular monitoring and evaluation Seed bank to be set up in cluster villages State seed certification agency be set up in the state Construction of more number of seed go-downs under seed village programme State seed farm in different agro-climatic zone of the state be established

MARKETING INTERVENTION TO ENSURE RENUMERATIVE PRICES OF OILSEEDS Soyabean: High demand but less production. No market constraint only local Soyabean grown in few packets of the State and that is utilized in preparing local fermented chutney. Mustard: Oil produced in small quantity and is being processed locally and is sold within the State and of high demand. No market constraint.

THANK YOU