Farmers' meet cum mela held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 11 2011:
Individual farmers and farmers' organisations were awarded with cash prizes and citations as a part of the Farmers' Meet cum Kishan Mela held today at GM Hall under the aegis of Department of Agriculture.
attended by Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat as the chief guest, farm units honoured at the occasion included Multi Farmers and Rural Organisation, Khangabok, Nongchup Loumee Sinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup and Nongpok Imphal Apunba Loumee Sinmee for excellent production of rice, mustard seed and pulses, carrying Rs 30,000 each.
Similar cash prize was also presented to All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association as the winner in potato production category.
Cash prizes of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 each were also given to representatives of farm units as second and third position winners of the Crop Mela Competition Award 2010-11 .
Consolation prize of Rs 5000 each were also awarded to 13 individual farmers.
Moreover, shawls were presented to progressive farmers which included five each from Chandel, Imphal East, Imphal West, Tamenglong, Bishnupur, thoubal and Churachandpur districts.
Speaking as the chief guest, Ph Parijat hailed farmers of the State as the backbone of the Manipuri society and assured to organise Farmers' Meet on a more grander scale next year.
He also exhorted the farmers to transform barren spaces of the state into greenery with food and cash crops in addition to encouraging them to come forth with suggestions for development of the agriculture sector.
The Minister also suggested that after cultivation of paddy or seasonal crops poultry activities could be taken up by the farmers during the intervening period.
Commissioner (Agriculture) Letkhogin Haokip, who also addressed the gathering expressed concern that not many family encourage their wards to pursue agriculture-related professions.
Among others, ICAR, Imphal's Joint Director Dr N Prakash and Director (Agri) L Palendro were also present at the occasion.
Later, Minister Parijat and other officials visited various stalls put up to display agricultural crops/seeds as a part of the Kishan Mela.