New variety of Ragi VL Mandua 376 in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh: Farmers are getting benefits from it
The new variety of Ragi VL Mandua 376 in Arunachal Pradesh is increasing the income of farmers. This variety gives more production in less time, which is giving a new direction to local agriculture.
Ragi (Mandua) cultivation is of great importance in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Ragi cultivation in 1,260 hectares of land here is an integral part of local culture, food and social life. However, the average yield of this crop is only 780 kg per hectare, which is much less than the national average of 1,747 kg per hectare. The main reason for this is the use of traditional, less productive varieties and old agricultural practices, which limit production.
New variety of Ragi: VL Mandua 376
The new variety of Ragi VL Mandua 376 has proved to be a revolutionary step for the farmers of Tawang. This new variety developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has raised new hopes for the hill farmers of Tawang. VL Mandua 376 is a high-yielding and early-ripening variety in less time, which can help farmers improve their traditional farming methods.
Features of VL Mandua 376
The features of VL Mandua 376 make it better than traditional varieties:
Higher production: VL Mandua 376 gives 35% more yield, which is more profitable than traditional varieties.
Early ripening variety: This variety ripens 3-4 weeks earlier than traditional varieties, which benefits farmers more quickly.
Suitable for local environment: This variety can be grown well even in the harsh mountainous environment of Tawang.
Women Empowerment: Benefits of the new Ragi variety
VL Mandua 376 has brought significant changes in the lives of women of Tawang. Women here had to face physical difficulties in traditional Ragi threshing. Due to manual threshing, they used to get physically tired and it also had a negative impact on their health. But with the cultivation of VL Mandua 376 and the use of VL Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler machines, the labor of women has reduced drastically. Now women are able to do more work in less time, which has improved their health and also relieved physical labor.
New variety of Ragi and improvement in threshing process
Along with the promotion of VL Mandua 376, VL Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler machines have been distributed. The threshing process has become very easy through these machines. With the help of these machines, 77.7% time has been saved and women’s labor has also reduced. This new technology has proved to be a great relief for women, as they do not have to face physical problems due to manual labor.
Success of farmers: Benefit from new variety of ragi
VL Mandua 376 cultivation has now been adopted in 34 villages of Tawang. The new variety of ragi is being cultivated in 362 hectares, benefiting 387 families. Due to this, there is a potential increase in the income of farmers and this new variety is giving direction to innovation in agriculture. VL Mandua 376 has given the farmers of Tawang hope for better production and income.
Seed production and distribution
Along with the promotion and dissemination of VL Mandua 376, seed production has also improved. Farmers are now producing seeds in a participatory manner, making high quality seeds of VL Mandua 376 easily available. In 2022, 200 kg of seeds were supplied, which increased to 450 kg in 2023. In 2024-25, its target is 1,000 kg of seeds, so that more and more farmers can get this seed.
The future of new ragi variety in Tawang
With the support of ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and State Agriculture Department, VL Mandua 376 has now been adopted in 4 blocks of Tawang district. The Tawang region is moving towards becoming a major center of ragi seed production. With the promotion of organic farming, Tawang’s ragi production can become a brand, which will bring stability in the income of farmers.
Conclusion
VL Mandua 376 has given a new twist to the cultivation of ragi in Tawang district. This new variety is not only helping in increasing production, but it has also improved the status of women and provided possibilities of increasing the income of farmers. The success of VL Mandua 376 proves how we can strengthen the agriculture sector by incorporating new technologies in traditional farming. This experiment of this new variety can become a source of inspiration for other parts of India.
Contact us: If farmers want to share information or experiences related to farming with us, then they can do this by calling us on the phone number 9599273766 or by writing an email to [email protected] or by sending your recording. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.