Experts assess fruit drop in Khasi Mandarin orchards of East Jaintia Hills
The office of the District Horticulture Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, in coordination with the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) of the Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI), today conducted an inspection of Narwan Village Orchards, East Jaintia Hills District, to assess the cause of fruit drop experienced by farmers.
The QRT delegation included the Vice-Chancellor of Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni, Solan, Dr. (Prof.) R.S Chandel, Former Assistant Director General (Horticulture Science), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr W.S. Dhillon, Former Director, ICAR-NRC on Pomegranate, Solapur, Dr R.K Pal, Former Dean and Director of Research, BCKV, West Bengal, Dr S.K Mitra, Former ADG (Plant Pathology) and Former Member ASRB, ICAR, New Delhi, Dr P.K Chakraborty, Ex-Head, Soil Science, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, Dr A.N Ganeshmurthy and scientists including Dr. A.K Das and Dr. D.M .Kadam, ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur, Dr H. Rymbai, ICAR-RCNEH, Umiam and Dr. E.S Marboh, ICAR-CCRI, RRCC, Biswanath Chariali, Assam.
Also present during the inspection were District Horticulture Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, DB Dhar, Assistant Director of Horticulture, East Jaintia Hills District,SR Mulieh and Horticulture Development Officers, B Rymbai and N Shylla, Traditional Heads and Farmers of Narwan area.
During the interaction, District Horticulture Officer D.B. Dhar expressed gratitude to the QRT members of CCRI and briefed them on the concerns regarding the fruit drop of Khasi Mandarin oranges in Narwan Village. He also highlighted the purpose of the joint inspection. Dhar mentioned that the Khasi Mandarin farmers in Narwan are looking forward to solutions from the QRT members to address the fruit drop problem they are currently facing.
Dr. RS Chandel, while interacting with the Khasi Mandarin farmers, emphasized the QRT’s determination to find the root cause of the fruit drop. He highlighted practices that farmers can adopt to produce quality fruits and encouraged them to plant local saplings in addition to importing saplings. He also noted that imbalanced nutrition is one of the major causes of fruit drop.
Overall, the inspection provided a platform to assess the current situation of Khasi Mandarin cultivation in the Narwan area and to discuss strategies and measures for improving quality production.
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we may not encourage planting of grafted plants. Rather should let the farmers do in situ grafting on the local seedlings. Farmers be trained and allowed to practice in their existing gardens at proper spacing. Also be made sure to keep a close eye on the leaf number of the plants which is crucial for flowering and fruiting.
An organised soil related study also needs to be carried out at identified spots of the village/area; based on agreed criteria.
Farmers could also be trained and exposed to this important aspect.
The present practice of providing nutrition to the soil and plants will also have to be studied and understood.
Care should also be taken to ensure to understand , maintain and sustain the inherent genetic aspects of the plant; evident from the unique identity given, the ‘Khasi Mandarin’.
The Strategy should be a Foolproof one,based on the definition of the Problem existing ; and not by solving Symptoms.
The Farmer is the Key Functionary here, along with other stakeholders.
A few suggestions made above that could be examined.
At Larnai village in West Jaintia Hills District, there is an Insect pest , that bores it’s way through the branches and main stem of the plant.
Once this happens, the plant gets weakened and ultimately gets weakened , and stops yielding fruits.
The STRATEGY could also include a separate chapter OR Portion relating to the study of Strengths, Weaknesses , Opportunities and Threats.
please train local farmers, their families, teachers and
direct farm workers using ICAR monographs in Soil testing, mineral nutrients deficiency charts and Citrus diseases and pests, in local language and easy to study and do manuals for local use.