Minister Lukhoi exhorts farmers to increase rice yield
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, June 13 2021:
Minister of Agriculture Oinam Lukhoi Singh handed over district-wise allocation of free Certified High Yielding Variety (HYV) paddy through the District Agriculture Officers concerned on Sunday.
Distribution of HYV paddy held at Agriculture Godown, Lamphelpat was held under the "Enhancement of Rice Production in the State" programme.
Noting hardships faced by the state's farmers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, minister Lukhoi said the government under the supervision of chief minister N Biren Singh has decided to distribute paddy seeds at free of cost instead of earlier practice of selling at 50 per cent subsidy.
He also stated that free distribution of Certified HYV paddy seeds to the target group in the interest and welfare of farmers of the state and informed that farmers can avail the same through the DAOs concerned.
While expressing firm belief that the farmers will strive to enhance production, Lukhoi also conceded that the deficit in food grains especially rice in the state is huge and is increasing over the years owing to the rise in population.
The government of Manipur constituted a sub-committee for enhancement of rice production in the state on September 7, 2020.After several round of discussion, the said sub-committee recommended 10 approaches and strategies to increase rice production in the state, he said.
The 10 recommendations, according to the minister, are Increasing Seed Replacement Rate; Enhancing Varietal Replacement Rate; Increasing Cropping Intensity through Assured Irrigation; Expansion of Effective Irrigation facilities; Adoption of more Intensive Cultivation Practices (SRI/ICM/ Line Planting, etc; Maintaining Soil Health and providing judicious Soil Nutrients; Revisiting the Extension Mechanism; Facilitation of Credit, Finance, Crop Insurance; Marketing & creation of Rural Storage infrastructure and Farm Mechanization.
Minister O Lukhoi also interacted with the DAOs concerned to take stock of the prevailing ground situation of the department in all the districts and also encouraged them to work in the interest and welfare of the farmers in the state.
The minister also inspected the fertilizers being stocked in the warehouse in the presence of Agriculture commissioner M Joy Singh, director Kh Lalmani Singh and officials of the department.