A Field Day was organized on 10/03/2023 under The Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) project especially for SC farmers which was sponsored  by Indian Institute for Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad to KVK, Gondia on Crop Diversification. During the month of October, Safflower seeds of variety AKS -207 were already distributed to 125 farmers on 125 acres under CFLDS’s (Oilseeds) by ICAR-ATARI , Pune  and ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad. Likewise, more than 100 acres of Safflower crops were also demonstrated by State Agricultural Department, Gondia, to 100 farmers. As the crop is in the harvesting stage, a Field Day Program was conducted at Village Bhadyatola of Gondia Tahsil. The program was inaugurated by Mr. Avinash Lad DDM, NABARD, who was also the Chief Guest of this Program organized under the chairmanship of Dr. Syed Shakir Ali, Senior Scientist and Head KVK, Gondia, in the presence of Dr. Bharat Farkhade, Scientist Dr. PDKV, Akola ,Mr. Vijay Bahekar,  Secretary SGGVSS, Gondia, Mr. Dhanraj Tumdam SDAO, Gondia, Mr. Sanjay Ahirkar State Head Maharashtra, JFarms Services, Mr. Pawar Circle Officer, Dasgaon, Gondia, Mr. Vishal Ubarhande SMS(Agril. Engg), Mr. Manoj Bhomte SMS (Agro), Mr. Rajebhau Chavan SMS (Ento), Mr. Ganesh Khedikar PA (Soil Lab), officials of JFarm services, Agriculture Supervisor, Agril. Assistant, Sarpanch, and Deputy Sarpanch of various villages, BDO’s of Mahatama Jotiba Phule FPC, Kati, etc.

Introductory remarks about the field Day were given by Mr. Vishal Ubarhande, while he gave brief information about the SCSP project and FLD on Safflower.

Mr. Sanjay Ahirkar State Head Maharashtra, JFarms Services motivated the farmers about Farm Mechanization and suggested the farmers to establish  Custom Hiring Centre through FPO so that its benefits can be taken by all the members.

Mr. Dhanraj Tumdam SDAO, Gondia guided about PMFME, Agricultural Mechanization, and other schemes and suggested the farmers to take advantage of the entire scheme.

Dr. Bharat Farkhade, Scientist Dr. PDKV, Akola, who was specially invited for this programme, gave detailed information about Safflower cultivation and its management, IPM, INM its harvesting, and its medicinal value.

Mr. Vijay Bahekar requested the farmers  to go for Crop Diversification and them to take advantages of the schemes of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and NABARD to raise their economic status and also requested  all the  farmers  to become  shareholders of Mahatama Jotiba Phule FPO of Kati Birsola cluster.

Mr. Atmaram Pache, a progressive farmer, shared his experience about Safflower and vegetables and suggested that the farmers to go for alternative crops for getting more income.

Mr. Avinash Lad DDM NABARD, suggested the farmers to go for Oilseeds and Pulses crop in different season by increasing its area under cultivation with NABARD helping all the FPC members if they want to start Oil Extraction unit at FPC level, he again suggested the farmers to take advantage of various scheme provided by NABARD for benefit of farming community  

Dr. Shakir Ali Syed, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, Gondia gave information about IIOR project and suggested the farmers to go for Safflower as a major Oilseeds  crop after Paddy during Rabi season, and accept  challenge to shift to crop diversification. He again informed that KVK, Gondia had distributed Knapsack Spray Pump to the farmers and for completing  the value chain of Safflower, an Oil extraction unit will  be installed  at KVK Gondia  for providing  training to the farmers on Oilseeds processing. He suggested that the farmers to become Entrepreneurs by considering agriculture as a business. He gave the Slogan “I AM A FARMER: I AM A BUSINESSMAN”.

During technical sessions, Mr. Manoj Bhomte gave information about Safflower cultivation while Mr. Rajebhau Chavan, SMS (Ento), gave detailed information about  pest and disease management in Safflower.

After the technical session, Method demonstration on harvesting was undertaken on the field nearby. All the scientists gave technical information about Safflower Harvesting, threshing, and its marketing. A Harvester was provided for Field Day by JFarm Services.

Anchoring and a vote of thanks was done by Mr. Ganesh Khedikar PA (Soil Lab). In all, more than 250 farmers, farmwomen, FPC shareholders, social workers, public representatives, officials, and all KVK staff participated in the program and made it a great success.