Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 08:
It has become necessary for the State agriculturists and experts to sit down and work out new methods of farming to help increase the productivity of the farmers, asserted Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat.
Speaking as the chief guest at the one day training programme on "Integrated Pest Management" at the Irawat Memorial Hall located at Chalou today, Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat said that th rampant use of pesticides and fertilisers by the farmers have not only affected the environment but have also indirectly affected the health of human beings.
He further informed that use of fertiliser will only increase the rate of productivity in the first few years and then gradually decrease until the soil becomes barren.
Informing that the training programme has been organised by the Macro Management Mode to create awareness among the farmers on the use of fertilisers prepared from plants, he urged the farmers to stop using chemical fertiliser and adopt to new form of fertilisers and help preserve the environment.
He also stated that there is a need for conducting soil testing on the paddy fields so as to enable the farmers to know the extent of damage done to their fields by continuous use of chemical fertiliser down the years.
Asserting that farming class which constitutes about 80% of the State's population plays a very vital role in the development of the State's economy, he urged the farmers of the area to join in the training programme and extract maximum benefit.