Kikhonbou encourages orange planters
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24 2013:
Pointing out that rodents destroy paddy plantation in Tamenglong district, MLA of Tamei AC Z Kikhonbou Newmai has exhorted the people to plant fruit bearing plants in large scale for enhancing income.
He was speaking at the Distribution of budded orange saplings organised under the Prime Minister initiative Orange Development Programme Tamenglong District by Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Manipur at the MLA's quarter at Lamphel-pat here today.
Newmai said that oranges can be successfully planted in around 20 villages out of the 44 villages in Tamei area, and in around 30 out of 64 villages in Tousem area.
In most places of Tamenglong district paddy plantations have been destroyed by rodents continuously, and so fruit plantation is much necessary to enhance the income of the people.
The orange saplings are being imported from other States and mass awareness regarding the methods of plantation of the same is required for the villagers, he added and urged to stop the trend of not planting any plants if the Government do not provide the financial assistance for it.
"Regardless of the Government's aid we should cooperate with and support each other in possible ways and plant fruit bearing trees for a living" .
During the occasion, Md Hfizuddin Khan, Officer in-Charge Orange Development Programme Tamenglong district of the Deputy Director Horticulture and Soil Conservation Headquarter said the programme is initiated as Tamenglong district is a suitable place for orange plantation.
Dr AK Srivastava and Govind Dhamapurkar, Principal Scientist and Soil Chemist, and Specialist respectively of National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur have sent the orange saplings to Manipur, Khan informed and urged the farmers to follow the advice of Horticulture experts for a productive plantation.
The occasion was also attended by N Tomba Singh, Horticulture District Officer Tamenglong and Project Officer Orange Development Programme; N Nilkumar, Horticulture District Officer Tousem; RK Noichand, Horticulture Officer Nungba; and Gaingam Pamei, Progressive Farmer of Tamei and Tousem.