A three-day exposure visit on vegetable cultivation was organised by MSSRF under the FSMK project from November 14-16, 2022. 120 farmers from Boipariguda block actively participated. The farmers visited large scale fruits and vegetable cultivation including guava, dragon fruit, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and cucumbers.

Technologies like polythene mulching, drip irrigation, line sowing / transplanting and trellis are being used in the large scale fruits and vegetable cultivation. They were happy to experience innovative technologies adopted in the farm that lowers labour expenditure, while encouraging better water management thereby increasing productivity.

The farmers said that this exposure visit experience will help them in vegetable cultivation in their nutrition gardens. “We have learnt about the distance maintained from plant to plant, and also that cutting down the branches will improve the growth of plants and fruits.” They also learned the grading system of different sizes and quality of vegetables, and market linkages that are an essential part of vegetable cultivation. Proper bio-input application for both nutrient and pest management was also part of their learning from the exposure visit.

The exposure visit was conducted at Balaji Krushi Farm, at- Aunli, Block- Boriguma of Koraput District. It was organised by MSSRF under RKVY funded FSMK Project.