ICAR Rabi season Agro Advisory for Sikkim

General Advisory for Rabi Season

• Sowing should be done within the optimum sowing time of the rabi crops.
• Mulching should be done through locally available biomass to conserve soil moisture for rabi crops and suppress the weed growth.
• Zero till cultivation of vegetable pea/toria/buckwheat can be taken up in rice fallow to utilize the residual soil moisture.
• Nursery should be raised for cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), onion, rayasaag etc. under protected condition.
• Nursery bed should be protected from rain (Silpauline: 45GSM) to avoid losses during unexpected rain.
• COVID protocol and measures to be followed while working in the field.
• Application of lime @ 1 t/ha 15-20 days before sowing the seed may be done for increasing availability of nutrients to the plants.
• For plant protection measures, spray neem-based formulation (1500 ppm) @ 0.3% as and when required to all the crops.

Agricultural crops

Rajsmah

• Sowing of Rajmash seed should be done by last week of August for getting maximum yield. Recommended varieties are – Sikkim Rajma-1, Jwala, Tripura Rajmash Selection 1 etc.
• Sowing of rajmash should be done on the ridge (ridge-furrow) to avoid seed deterioration due to water logging from continuation rain and proper drainage channel to be made.
• Apply FYM 5 t/ha + 2.0 t/ha vermicompost + 20 kg/ha biofertilizer.
• Seed rate of rajmash should be @ 70-80 kg/ha with spacing 30 cm x10 cm.

Rapeseed Mustard

• Field should be prepared in the month of October-November with 2-3 times ploughing for Rapeseed and Mustard cultivation and apply well decomposed FYM @ 5 t/ha, vermicompost 2 t/ha and 100-120 kg/ha rock phosphate to get optimum yield.
• Sowing of Rapeseed and Mustard should be done from last week of October to December. Seed rate @ 6-8 kg/ha treated with PSB @20g/kg of seed. Recommended varieties are – Pant Pili Sarson-1, Pant Sweta and existing variety like Uttara and Benoy-9, PM-27, and PM-28 etc and Toria variety TS 36, TS 38

Buckwheat

• Sowing should be done from the second fortnight of October to First week of November.
• Sowing should be done with the seed rate 30-40kg/ha and spacing 30 cm x10 cm
• Apply FYM @ 5 t/ha and vermicompost @ 1t/ ha.

Horticultural crops

• At fruiting stage such as orange, kiwifruit utmost precaution should be taken during filed operation to avoid root damage.
• Ensure proper storage of harvested fruit crop to ensure better price realization like cold storage etc.
• Precautions to be taken for direct marketing of harvested vegetables and fruits.
• In orange, FYM @ 20 kg/plant should be applied in the month of April-May every year.

Vegetable pea/Field pea:

• Zero till cultivation of vegetable/field pea should be practiced.
• Sowing should be done with spacing of 30-4 0cm x 10 cm and seed rate @ 60-70 kg/ha
• Apply lifesaving irrigation for better yield
• Apply FYM @ 2 t/ha + vermicompost @ 1 t/ ha during the time of sowing.

Cole cops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli) and tomato

• Nursery should be raised in protected condition to avoid untimely rain and low temperature.
• The nursery site should be dry and free from water stagnation as well as high moisture in the soil.
• The nursery bed should be prepared by mixing well decomposed FYM or compost @ 4 kg/m2.
• 25-30 days old sapling should be transplanted with spacing of 40-50 cm row to row and plant to plant.
• Transplant the seedling must be done in the evening and irrigate immediately.
• Apply FYM @ 7-8 t/ha + vermicompost @ 1-2 t/ ha for getting higher yield.

Root crop (radish, carrot)

• Soak the seed of carrot overnight in water before sowing for early germination.
• Seed should be sown on the raised bed of 30-40 cm width.
• Apply FYM @ 8-10 t/ha + vermicompost @ 1-2 t/ ha for getting higher yield.
• Spacing for carrot- Row to row: 20-30 cm and plant to plant:5-10 cm and
• radish - row to row: 30-40 cm and plant to plant: 5-10 cm should be maintained for good crop yield.
• To maintain proper spacing thinning should be done after 10-15 DAS

Potato

• Potato should be planted in the middle of October – middle of November for higher yield in rice-fallow to utilize the residual soil moisture.
• Apply well rotten FYM @ 12-15 t/ha along with vermicompost @2-3 t/ha in the line during the time of planting.
• Tuber size 40-50 g in weight should be planted with row-row spacing of 50-60 cm and plant-plant20 cm.
• One irrigation is necessary for getting good yield.
• Good moisture to be maintained in the field to avoid the red ants’ infestation.

Livestock specific advisory

Cattle and Goats

• Strict hygiene and sanitation need to maintain at the farm premises to prevent the incidence of diseases.
• Regular supplementation of mineral mixture @50-60g/day to adult cows and calcium to the lactating and pregnant cows @70-80ml/day/cow is very much essential for milking cows for getting optimum production and productivity and avoid disease occurrence.
• Follow good management practices related to feeding, watering, housing (clean, dry, well ventilated) and general hygiene to keep animals healthy.
• Calves should be de-wormed as early as 21 days with Piperazine against round worm @110-130mg/kg body weight. Adult cow should be de-wormed preferably with Fenbendazole @7mg/kg body weight.
• Ensure de-worming of goats with Albendazole @ 7.5mg/kg body weight. In case of pregnant dose, pregnancy safe anthelmentics (Fenbendazole 25mg/kg body weight) should be administered 15 days prior to expected date of kidding. 
• Feed materials should be store in dry place to avoid possible fungal growth (Aflatoxicosis).
• Foot bath should be made at the entry point of the farm to reduce the contamination.
• Balance and timely feeding (dry fodder, roughages, concentrate, vitamin, minerals,) should be practice for the optimum production and good health.
• Avoid slippery floor especially in case of pregnant cattle.
• Timely vaccination and deworming should be practice.

Poultry Birds

• Litter materials should be dried and frequently changed in the poultry farm to prevent the incidence of coccidiosis.
• Proper ventilation and spacing should be followed in poultry farm to prevent the incidence of diseases.
• Provide artificial heating to poultry birds (day old to 25 days old) through lightning of electric bulb to protect them from low temperature during nighttime.
• Keep the poultry house well ventilated during daytime.
• Vaccinate against Ranikhet, IBD, Fowl pox, Marek disease in poultry birds.
• Poultry birds should be de-wormed with piperazine @32mg/ kg in two consecutive feed or water against round worms and Albendazole against other worm @10mg/kg body weight with or without Praziquantel @5 mg/kg body weight and depending upon age of the bird.

Piggery

• Pigs should be de-wormed with Albendazole @5 mg/kg body weight and Piperazine specifically against round worm @110- 200mg/kg body weight. 
• Pig farmers are advised for regular supplementation of mineral mixture @50-60 gm/day for pregnant sow and calcium to the lactating sows @60-80 ml/day/sow.
• Restrict the movement of visitors into the farms and follow strict bio-security measures. Use of good disinfectant in foot bath.
• In pigs vaccinate against Swine fever. Vaccination for FMD, BQ and HS for bovines.
• Creep box with heating source (bulb) should be used in piglets’ pens to reduce the mortality due to trampling by the snow and cold shock.

Source : ICAR Rabi Agro-Advisory for farmers