Imphal, January 15 2010: Agriculture is the backbone of a society and people engaged in this profession are contributing a lot in the socio economic condition of the state, said state agriculture minister, N Loken today.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the state level one day orientation training programme on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for enhancing rice production in the state at Sanjenthong as chief guest, the minister said that agriculture plays a major role in the socio economy of the state.

Knowing this, state government is implementing the SRI programme for increasing the productivity of rice.

He said the method SRI was taken up in the state from last year (2009) in some fields on experimental basis.

On seeing the success of the system, farmers have now started taking interest in the practice SRI method of cultivation of paddy.

If the system is introduced throughout the state in both hills and plain, the productivity of the rice in the state will increase manifold and will help in surplus food production.

He also advised the official of the agriculture department to go round hills and plain and spread awareness among the farmers about the system for widespread practice of the same.

The minister is also hopeful of enhanced production of rabi crops this season stating that the department has supplied quality rabi crop seeds at a mass scale to the farmers and minor irrigation department has taken up irrigation of the fields as required.

Commissioner of agriculture, Letkhogin Haokip who attended the function as guest of honour expressed concerned over the inability to increase the productivity of the agricultural products despite having a full fledged department dealing with agriculture.

The inability of hiking the productivity indicated that there is some flaw in imparting training on modern method of agriculture in the state, he observed and appealed to the officials to impart proper training on the latest technical know-how to the farmers.

It will not be possible to hike the productivity so long as farmers are not trained well.

Too much talk without action could not bring much benefit and urged all officials of the department irrespective of rank to go to field and join in the effort to enhance productivity of the state.

Joint director, N Prakash of ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) elaborated on the new system SRI and said it is a system which also will increase the productivity of rice.

Introduction of the system will help in hiking rice productivity in the state.

Many other officials attending the function talked on the new system of rice cultivation.

Director of agriculture, L Phalendro presided over the inauguration function.

Phalendro said Manipur is the second state among the states in the north eastern region of the country to introduce SRI.

The system has already been taken up successfully in Tripura.

In the state SRI was introduced in 2007 and is being taken up successfully at present, he claimed.

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