Final report on digital, natural farming tabled
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 25 2022: Chief minister N Biren on Friday chaired a review meeting to discuss the final report on digital farming and natural farming prepared by the inter-departmental committee of agriculture and related departments, which was constituted to promote vigorous farming activities by utilising the agricultural areas of the state whole year round.

Additional chief secretaries MH Khan and P Vaiphei, directors of agriculture, horticulture and veterinary departments attended the meeting held at the CM's secretariat on Friday.

The meeting also discussed ways to utilise agricultural lands round the year, enhance food production, dairy production, horticulture crop production in hills as well as collection of data and analysis for the national digital database of farmers.

Sources said that the meet ing discussed the transition from conventional chemical fertilisers to nano fertiliser in order to minimise the impact of rampant use of chemical fertilisers on soil fertility and food production.

Efficacy reports of using nano fertiliser were also tabled in the meeting, which suggests nano fer tiliser as more effective than the conventional fertiliser.

The meeting resolved to use nano fertiliser in half of the farmlands of the state and the CM reportedly instructed officials of agriculture department to finalise a report for acquiring 60 agricultural drones with 15 to 30 litres capacity for application of nano fertiliser.

The CM also instructed department officials to prepare a report on the requirement of nano fertiliser and procure adequate stock beforehand.

Observing that one drone might cost anywhere between Rs 20 to 30 lakh, the CM instructed the officials to finalise planning for procuring the same and train drone operators, get necessary license so that they could be deployed anytime.

The meeting also discussed promotion of natural farming as an alternative to use of chemical fertiliser, and considered proposal for sending an official team to assess the Gobardhan farming model being taken up in Varanasi.

It discussed proposal for organising cattle fair at district levels with cash incentives for the best performing livestock farmers, and providing financial assistance for developing grazing grounds.

The meeting also resolved to prepare a project for natural farming and submit the same to the Centre soon.

The CM also instructed officials to promote use of organic manure as a safe alternative to chemical fertiliser in farming activities.

The CM further instructed officials of both agriculture and horticulture departments to make detailed planning for round the year farming, especially in areas surrounding underground water facilities created by minor irrigation and other areas where irrigation facilities were recently improved.

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