State has a shortfall of 6500 metric tonnes rice every year
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 11 2011:
With the yearly requirement of rice by a person in Manipur being roughly 200 kilos, the deficit of the state stands at 6500 metric tones per year at present.
This was disclosed by state Agricultural Director L Palendro, speaking at the one day Field Day on Rice cum Farmers Fair held at the Research Complex of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Lamphelpat today.
Speaking on the occasion, L Palendro further went on to say that in order to make up the deficit in the production of rice we need to increase the cultivable area of rice (first crop) at present by 10,000 hectors.
SRI method of rice cultivation should also be practiced and there should also be a balance distribution of fertilizers, if at all organic farming cannot be practiced by the farmers of the state on a large scale.
Chief Guest of the function, Agricultural Minister Ph Parijat said that farmers, who are generally regarded as a blue collared community, need to be acknowledged by the people for the untiring work they are performing.
It is not possible to live without their labour, Our lives entirely depend on their hands.
As a mark of respect to the farmers and also to encourage their profession, prizes including Tractors and Power tillers are given to the farmers at the State level competitions, apart from the cash prize awarded to them.
He also appealed to the farmers to practice organic farming as far as possible.
The function was also attended by Dr SV Ngachan, Director ICAR, Meghalaya, Dr N Prakash, Joint Director, ICAR, Manipur Centre as the President and Guest of Honour respectively.
K Saratkumar, Director, Fisheries, Proff S Premjit, Extension Education Director, CAU, Dr Kh Somorendro, Director, Institute of Corporative Management, Th Iboyaima, Father of Social Worker and other officials of different departments also attended the function.