Kisan Mela held at Chandel
Source: The Sangai Express
Chandel, September 05 2019:
A Mega Kisan Mela under Jal Sakti Abhiyan sponsored by Sub Tribal Component (formerly TSP) was held at KVK, Chandel today.
Krishna Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Chandel, Dr N Prakash, Jt Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat and Dr Deepak Singh, Sr Scientist & Head, KVK Chandel attended the event organised by KVK Chandel as presidium members.
While inaugurating the Kisan Mela, chief guest of the function, DC Chandel Krishna Kumar said: "Water is a precious resource not to be taken for granted otherwise we'd be regretful in front of the next generation".
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is time bound water saving campaign which is an eye-opener for the public.
The water level of Chakpi river is decreasing year by year and the main reason is dwindling forest cover, he said urging people of Chandel to practice water re-use and adopt rainwater harvesting.
He motivated the farmers to practice double-cropping instead of mono-cropping.
Guest of honour of the function, Dr Narendra Prakash, Joint Director, motivated the farmers to get inspiration from the ancient integrated farming system of Panikheti, practised in Arunachal Pradesh and Zabo system of Nagaland.
"The present year has witnessed deficit in rainfall.
So in the present context, rice cultivation alone cannot assure success for farmers.
A minimum of 33 % forest cover is needed to assure ecological balance in the State.
Farmers need to adopt smart farming with drought-resistant or less-water consuming crop varieties," he said.
District Agriculture Officer, Chandel Gladney Monsang informed that in the present drought-like situation, famine is very much inevitable and oilseeds, wheat, pea, gram, lentil etc are effective compensating crops.
Water conservation is a habit to be inculcated by the general public, Gladney Monsang said.
Senior Scientist & Head, KVK, Chandel Dr Deepak urged the farmers of the district to make maximum use of the water conservation campaign and ensure proper crop productivity.
Altogether 256 farmers from different blocks of Chandel District attended the programme.
The Kisan Mela was also attended by Dr K Sonamani Singh, ACTO (Agril Engg), Dr A Ameeta Devi, ACTO (Animal Science), Ts Leenda Monsang, ACTO (Plant Breeding), Dr Kl Levish Chongloi, ACTO (Agronomy), Kamei Super, TO (Farm), D Doungel, TO (Computer) of KVK Chandel, Ksh Prava Devi, AO of District Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Chandel and Dilbung Shenong, SO of PHED, Chandel.