24 Jan 2024 A two-day workshop for progressive farmers from priority villages was organized under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Green-Ag Project from 24 – 25 January 2024, at the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Bhadrak, Odisha. The exposure visit aimed to enhance participants skills and knowledge of climate-resilient farming practices and organic farming systems through on-field exposure and demonstration. A total of 25 farmers from six blocks participated in the exposure visit, accompanied by the Gender and Social Inclusion Expert, GLIU. Bhanumati Dhinda, Senior Research Fellow (SRF), KVK, delivered the welcome address, providing an overview of the concept and implementation modalities of the NICRA model which included technology demonstrations for natural resource management relating to crop production, livestock and integrated pest management for selected crops. There were practical sessions for technology demonstration for crops such as flood-tolerant paddy varieties like Swarna-Sub-1, CR-1009 and in the case of vegetables, the use of heat-tolerant varieties of brinjal was also highlighted. Further application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in cabbage and sunflower and adoption of climate resilient backward poultry varieties like Rainbow roaster was also discussed. Following this, Dr Sanjay Kumar Mohanty, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, Bhadrak discussed the significance of the two-day exposure visit and elaborated on how farmers can make crop planning based on market dynamics. Further, Dr Sanjay Kumar Mohanty conducted a technical session on integrated pest management which helped the farmers take various mechanical, cultural and biological methods of pest control without using chemical pesticides. Dr Debi Prasad Dash, a Scientist in Soil Science, led two sessions on Natural Farming and Soil Health Management which highlighted the preparation of organic farm inputs like Jeevamrut, the use of spider and yellow sticks to trap pests. In the final session of the day, Gayadhar Sial, Scientist, Agro Forestry, conducted a session on intercropping with a focus on agro-forestry. Day 2 of the exposure visit focused on demonstrating various organic manure preparation techniques, mushroom spawn production and mushroom cultivation, pest management in natural farming, demonstration on NICRA technology and field visit. Dr Debi Prasad Dash, Scientist Soil Science led a session with farmers on the farm at KVK, demonstrating various organic manure techniques such as Narayan Deotao Pandharipande (NADEP) method of composting and Vermicomposting. In the subsequent session, Dr Jyotsna Rani Moharana, Scientist Horticulture conducted a session on demonstrating the process of NICRA technology like growing direct seeded rice in flood conditions, and heat tolerant vegetable varieties. Following this, Dr Umasankar Nayak, Associate Director of Research (ADR), Regional Research Technology Transfer Station (RRTTS) conducted a session on pest management in natural farming. This was followed by the session from Dr Bijayalaxmi Rout, Scientist-Home Science who conducted a demonstration on Mu NICRA technology mushroom spawn production, mushroom cultivation and value-added mushroom produces. After the technical session, the farm manager, along with other KVK officials, led a field visit with all the farmers to the nearby Fatepur village, Dhamnagar Block of Bhadrak for a demonstration on NICRA technology.