A field day on “Rabi Sunflower” at Ibrahimpur village organized by ARS, Tornala on 12-02-2020

A field day on “Rabi Sunflower” at Ibrahimpur village organized by ARS, Tornala on 12-02-2020

A field day on rabi sunflower was organized by Agricultural Research Station, Tornala on 12-02-2020 at it’s adopted village Ibrahimpur, Siddipet rural mandal, Siddipet district. Dr. A.V. Ramanjaneyulu, Sr. Scientist (Agro) & Head and Ms. D. Swetha, Scientist (Agro.), ARS, Tornala have participated in the field day. Besides, Mr. M. Nagarjuna, AEO, Ibrahimpur village from Department of Agriculture, Mr. D. Devaiah, Sarpanch, Mr. K. Nagesh Reddy, President, Rythu Samanvaya Samithi committee (RSSC), host farmer Mr. K. Siddi Reddy and many village farmers have participated in the field day on rabi sunflower. All the participant farmers and officials were taken to rabi sunflower demonstration laid out in Ibrahimpur village under the supervision of scientists of ARS, Tornala. Ms. D. Swetha, Scientist (Agro.), ARS, Tornala explained in detail about the sunflower production aspects viz., details of DRSH-1 seed, cultivation practices, yield, oil content and management of birds. Later host farmer Mr. K. Siddi Reddy has shared his experience with the fellow farmers about the rabi sunflower production. Later, Dr. A.V. Ramanjaneyulu, Sr. Scientist (Agro.) & Head, ARS, Tornala explained about cultivation aspects of sunflower with main emphasis on seed treatment, efficient methods of irrigation, nutrition, insitu incorporation of stubbles after harvesting of flower heads. He also explained about machinery like monkey/bird scaring gun operated with Calcium carbide and wild boar scarer gun operated with gas cylinder. He also suggested to spray egg solution @ 20 ml/lit on flower heads starting from seed setting stage twice at 10 days interval to control parrots. Further, he suggested to grow sunflower in compact blocks of 15-20 acres. He also added that seed production is remunerative to the farmers and enhance the farmers income by 1.5-2.0 times. He also explained about the importance of mechanization and its advantages such as labour and time saving. Later, Mr. Nagajuna, AEO, Ibrahimpur, gave an overview about problems faced by farmers for marketing and also explained about opportunities available for seed production. Participant farmers expressed that they are ready to take up sunflower production on a large scale from ensuring rabi season onwards.