Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 31 2009:
Agriculture Minister N Loken today conducted an inspection tour of the model seed villages being set up under the Technology of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) by the Agriculture Department in different parts of the State.
The Model seed villages have been set up in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur district as joint collaborative efforts of the farmers' committees and the monitoring committee that has been set up under the supervision of the Minister with Director of Agriculture RK Nayansana, Additional Director L Palandro, Deputy Director (Planning) G Shamu Kabui, Deputy Director (Soil Chemistry) Ph Rajendro and experts of Central Agricultural University (CAU) and Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) as members.
At the occasion of inspecting the model seed village of IR-64 being set up by New Era Farmers' Union at Haorang Keirel covering 37 hectares, the Minister also inaugurated used of Pheramon trap to protect the crop from the infestation of harmful Nungyen Laba.
Afterward, interacting with farmers of the area, the Minister said that out of the total agricultural land of 2.34 lakh hectares in the State, only 1.95 lakh hectares have been brought under paddy cultivation.
On top of this, lack of adequate irrigational facilities and requisite seeds in time has impeded in production of even one lakh matric tonne of food grain from these fields under paddy cultivation.
However, there is no need for panic over this situation as there is potential for increasing the food grain production through adoption of new technologies.
As part of the efforts being made by the State Government to increase food production, the Agriculture Department has set up model seed villages covering 900 hectares of paddy fields in four districts of the State namely Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur, the Minister said, while appealing to the farmers for co-operation in ensuring the success of the efforts being made.
The Minister also inspected the progress of the model seed villages being taken up in the paddy fields of Maklang and Canchipur during the tour today.
Director of Agriculture RK Nayansana, Deputy Director (Soil Chemistry) Ph Rajendro, Deputy Director (Planning) G Shamu Kabui and experts from CAU accompanied the Minister during the inspection tour.