Advice to farmers for sowing gram
Chickpea is the main pulse crop of rabi season, the country produces 67 percent of the world’s chickpea. In India, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh produce the most chickpeas. In such a situation, farmers can gain more profit by cultivating gram scientifically to get more yield at less cost. In this context, the Deputy Director of Tabji Farms, a plant testing center based in Ajmer, has issued an advisory for farmers considering the timing of sowing chickpeas.
Mr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Tabiji Farms said, salt and alkali free, drained fertile land is suitable for gram. The best time to sow gram is mid-October to mid-November. He said, production and productivity can be increased by protecting gram crops from insects and diseases. For this, farmers have to use seed treatment and disease resistant varieties.
Farmers should clean the land before sowing the seeds
The office’s Agricultural Research Officer (Plant Diseases) Dr Jitendra Sharma said gram crops are affected by harmful diseases such as root rot and drought, root rot and rot. Soil should be treated with Trichoderma to prevent these diseases. For soil treatment, before sowing, mix 10 kg of Trichoderma with 200 kg of moisture rich dung manure and keep in shade for 10-15 days. Apply this mixture to the soil at the time of sowing at the rate of per hectare and use resistant varieties. Along with this, seed treatment at the rate of Carbendazim 1 g and Thiram 2.5 g or Trichoderma 10 g per kg of seed is sown.
What to do to protect against termites and other insects?
Dr. Dinesh Swamy, assistant agricultural research officer (pests) of the office, said that Quinalfos 1.5 percent powder should be sprayed at the rate of 25 kg per hectare before final cultivation to prevent termites, cutworms and wireworms in chickpea crops. To protect chickpea crop from termites, treat seeds with Fipronil 5 SC or Imidacloprid 600 FS at the rate of 10 ml at the rate of 5 ml per kg of seed. Farmers must use full clothing, masks and gloves while handling seeds.