SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
MEGHALAYA

January - June, 2002.

On the 4th January, 2002, the Officer, Jaintia Hills Soil Conservation (Cash Crops) Division, Jowai, observed and celebrated the ‘Year of the Farmer’ at Sonapur village by way of conducting and organizing Farmers’ training for about 100 farmers. The main theme of the programme was to grow more food with special emphasis on proper land use and proper watershed management. The farmers who attended the training were from Sonapur village and nearby villages of Lumshnong, Tongseng, Sakhri, Myrli, Kuliang, Borsora and Chymplong.

The function was graced by the Chief Guest, Mr. Hillarious Dkhar, MDC and Chairman, Housing, JHADC, Jowai and presided over by Shri K.S. Thubru, Divisional Soil Conservation Officer (Cash Crops) Division, Jowai. The one day training programme had two sessions. In the first Session, training was imparted to the farmers by different Resource persons from different Departments like Soil Conservation Department, Veterinary, Horticulture, Agriculture and Fisheries. Besides, lectures on various topics, demonstrations and group discussions were also conducted. In the second session, the programme included Boat race, swimming and diving competition followed by prize distribution. The programme came to an end with a film show.

On 7th February, 2002, the Division organized a training programme to celebrate the ‘Year of the Farmer’ at Mookyndeng Parish Hall, Mookyndeng. About 200 farmers, both men and women, from Mookyndeng, Madankynsaw, Mulum, Mulieh, Mynktung and Nongkynrih villages falling under the Integrated Wasteland Development Project registered and attended the training programme.

Shri S.F. Khongwir, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Jaintia Hills District presided over the function. Shri N. Lamare, MDC and Chairman, Customary Laws, JHADC was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural function. Resource persons from different allied Departments also attended the training programme.

The training programme consisted of two sessions. In the first session, that is, the Inaugural Session, there were speeches delivered by various headmen of the villages falling under the Integrated

Wasteland Development Project while during the second session, the training programme was conducted by Officers of the Department and resource persons from the allied Departments.

Farmers attentively listening to the lectures given by the resource persons at the Farmers' Training Programme

On 7th March, 2002, a Farmers Training Programme was conducted at Nongthymme where the farmers of Umpung Lower Watershed under Integrated Wasteland Development Project attended. During the training programme, officers from the Soil & Water Conservation Department and other Departments delivered lectures on different topics relating to their concerned subjects.

On the 14th June, 2002, the Jaintia Hills Soil Conservation (Cash Crop) Division organized a training-cum-horticultural seedling planting programme at Iooksi village where the Officers of the Division enlightened and highlighted the farmers of the various schemes and activities of the Department. Towards the end of the function, 2500 nos. of seedlings were freely distributed to the participants who were mostly progressive farmers.

On 25th June, 2002, a programme similar to the above was organized at Sohmynting village. About 3000 nos. of seedlings were distributed to the farmers at the end of the programme.

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION MEGHALAYA NEWSLETTER. Vol. 3 (3) January - June, 2002