Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2009:
Minister of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Phungzathang Tonsing has announced that 20 sprayers would be distributed to each of the sixty MLAs of the State for use by farmers in their respective constituencies.
Phungzathang was speaking as chief guest at a function organised by Horticulture and Soil Conservation Dept at 1st MR parade ground here today.
Horticulture equipment and farm machineries were distributed to selected beneficiary farmers during the function.
He said that 100 sprayers each would be distributed through district officers of Horticulture Dept to all the districts in addition to 300 bee-hives to each of the districts.
Phungzathang said that the initiatives launched by the Department is aimed at enhancing incomes of the cultivators by producing surplus food above the quantity needed for domestic consumption.
Horticulture equipment and farm machineries being distributed today is a part of the initiative, he added.
TD Minister DD Thaisii who attended the function as guest of honour observed that agriculture activities are more suited in the valley just as hills have vast potential in horticulture sector.
He also appealed to the farmers to take the horticulture equipment distributed to hill areas to use the same equipment at optimum level.
Giving key-note address of the function, Horticulture Commissioner BB Sharma observed that the soil and climate of Manipur are very suitable for horticulture crops.
He exhorted the farmers to employ modern technologies in order to produce surplus food.
He also appealed to the farmers not to use chemical fertilizers excessively.
Horticulture equipment and farm machinery distributed to the farmers today was under the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture for North Eastern States.
The items distributed today included 57 power tillers, 28 diesel water pump sets, 100 sprayers and 300 bee-hives.
Excepting bee-hives, the Government paid for 1/3rd of the prices of all other equipment while the beneficiary farmers paid the remaining 2/3rd.