Day 2 of GAU Agri Fair: Need for Integrated Farming System stressed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 12 2019:
Adoption of Integrated Farming System can bring about positive changes in the State thereby increasing farm yield and income of farmers, said Dr M Premjit, Vice Chancellor, CAU Iroishemba.
He was speaking at the Farmers-Scientists Interaction cum Discussion programme on the second day of the CAU Regional Agri Fair 2018-19 at its campus today.
The Integrated Farming System approach has multiple objectives of sustainability, food security, farmer security and poverty reduction.
It involves use of outputs of one enterprise component as inputs for other related enterprises, he said.
Mixing of pisciculture, poultry, animal husbandry and agriculture- IFS can maximise production through optimal use of available resources, he said.
Harvesting crops only can not elevate and improve the farmers of the State, he said.
According to him, small scale family based IFS has the potential to elevate the State farmers to a new height and increase their income.
Not only the farmers, but the youths have to be motivated to adopt new and innovative ideas and technologies to enhance and develop agriculture/IFS, he said.
Stating that the State does not have a solid irrigation system in placed, Premjit said that Manipur have to find a new way and adopt policy that would bring about the desire goal of doubling the farmers' income by 2022.As paddy/rice is the main staple crop of the State, farmers have to begin with and improve its produces/yield, he said.
Saying that farmers are ignorant about planting new and improved varieties of paddy of ICAR and CAU, he appealed the farmers to try and sow the improved varieties of seeds for increased produces.
Pineapple, orange of Tamenglong, Kachai lemon, passion fruits, turmeric ginger and black rice are some of the fine produces that farmers can exploit for great profit, he said.
State Government should set up the necessary mechanisms and systems to facilitate easy access to good markets, he said.
Director Atari Zone VI, Dr AK Tripathi, Dr W Sadamate, Dr MM Adhikari, Dr CA Srinivasmurthgy and Dr RK Saha also spoke during the discussion.
The fair will end on January 13 .