Dr. Girish K.S. Panicker to present at Alliance Field Day, November 20
The Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural Production Demonstration Farm in Holmes County is hosting a field day November 20, 2015. The event will feature experts and presenters from Alcorn State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Mississippi. Topics for the Alliance Field Day will include Introducing New Crops and Varieties to Local Farmers/Growers; Growing Cool Season Crops; Preparation for Spring Planting; and Legal Assistance to Farmers.
Dr. Girish K. S. Panicker, associate professor and director of the Center for Conservation Research at Alcorn State University, will focus on “Introducing New Crops and Varieties to Local Farmers/Growers.” He will introduce a new crop cocoyam (taro). Cocoyam is a highly nutritious vegetable crop, easy to cultivate and store, and is adapted to this region. Panicker will, also, introduce persimmon, a nutritious and medicinal fruit. These oriental varieties are resistant and adapted to this region. Persimmons can prevent obesity, high blood pressure, and the entry of cholesterol from food into the bloodstream. After the presentation, the participants will have a chance to taste cocoyam and persimmons.
Other presenters include:
- Dr. Bill Evans, associate research professor, Truck Crop Experiment Station with Mississippi State University will focus on “Growing Cool Season Crops and Preparation for Spring Planting.”
- Marie Cope and Cameron Abel, directors, University of Mississippi School of Law Transactional Clinic and their students will also be on hand to help farmers with free legal and business advice.
Registration is at 10 a.m. and the program will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The event is free, however, pre-registration is required. To register, send email to [email protected].
Directions to Alliance Demonstration Farm: the demonstration farm is located in Holmes County, Mississippi, off of Hwy 51 between Goodman and Durant. Visitors may exit I-55 at exit 146/Hwy 14 and travel three miles east to Goodman and Holmes Community College. From Goodman, travel north three miles on Hwy 51 to Coleman Road on the left. Visitors may also exit I-55 at exit 150/State Park Road and travel east through the park toward Hwy 51. From the park, travel one mile south on Hwy 51 to Coleman Road on the right. The farm is one mile southwest of Hwy 51 at 1184 Coleman Road. (Look for new signs on Highway 51 and Coleman Road).
