'Primary processing can make farmers rich'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 15 2012:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Manipur Center, Lamphelpat successfully conducted a two-day workshop on 'agriculture and food security in the context of climatic change cum farmers fair' which concluded at its premise yesterday.
Addressing the participants, Prof.M Premjit Singh, Director of Extension Education, Central Agricultural University, (CAU) Iroisemba and Guest of Honour of the valedictory function noted that farmers could generate more income if they are able to start primary processing units at home instead of selling raw products to intermediaries.
Referring to the rodent menace in Tamenglong district, Premjit said that scientist and researchers should work out a long-term solution to solve the problem being faced by farmers due to climatic change and other natural calamities in the state.
Pointing out rainwater harvesting, custom hiring and crop diversification as some of the measures to mitigate climatic change and its impact on farming, Premjit said that NGOs and line departments should establish seed and fodder banks to provide good quality seedlings and fodders to farmers.
Addressing the participants at the workshop, Prof.M Roshnikumar Singh, CAU said that Manipur receive enough monsoon rainfall this year but the problem is with the distribution of water to cultivated areas.
Chief Guest of the function, Prof.H Nandakumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Manipur University encouraged all the farmers who attended workshop to produce more products to meet the increasing demands in the state.
The function was presided by Dr H Narendra Prakash, Joint Director, ICAR, Manipur Center.
The Chief Guest, Guests of Honour and President of the function distributed awards to the participants.