Mald Horti Dept encourages farmers to adopt companion planting

In this regard, a special training session was held recently at Kaliachak-I and Kaliachak-III blocks, where 50 farmers participated with keen interest. The key focus of the event was to transmit knowledge to farmers about growing vegetables and spices alongside mango and litchi trees. Experts urged them to use organic fertilizers because they are conducive to health and the environment.

Samanta Layek, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department, said, “Our main aim is to improve the quality of mangoes and litchis using organic methods. We are also showing farmers how to grow extra crops in their orchards.”

Plantation drives of mango and litchi saplings are going on a war footing in Malda. Farmers are getting all kinds of advice from the experts. For example, turmeric, ginger, and yam are good for mature orchards. However, in new orchards, lemon, papaya, and banana need to be cultivated where trees are small.

As per the experts, this method is set to help farmers to grow two or three crops at a time. Those farmers who took part in this training session were excited and ready to try these ideas in their respective orchards, making farming more profitable and sustainable as well.