Farmers' training programme conducted
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, August 22 2022:
A one-day training programme on plant protection and on-farm bio inputs preparation for local farmers under Haoram Farmer Producer Company Ltd (HFPCL) was held at Phungcham village on Monday, as part of phase-III of the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) scheme.
The programme was organised by Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS), Ukhrul with the support of Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Manipur and was participated by around 100 farmers.
The day-long training programme held at the village community hall, was attended by head i/c of KVK (ICAR) Ukhrul Dr Solei Luiram as resource person.
Addressing the trainees, Dr Solei said that local farmers need to adopt organic farming which has various benefits in terms of market potentials and health values.
"There's growing demand for organic products and farmers, who produce such products will not face problems in marketing them.
As such, organic products are not only viable for business but are also beneficial for public health," he explained.
Dr Solei continued that in order to produce organic products, farmers should avoid unhealthy practices including use of chemical fertilisers and genetic modification of crops.
Dr Solei Luiram also talked about how farmers could improve the health of plants by practicing crop rotation.
He advised the trainees to switch planting between leguminous and non-leguminous crops in the same farm in order to improve natural soil fertility.
DSSS Ukhrul & Kamjong coordinator Solomon said that marketing of farm produces used to be a huge challenge for local farmers in the recent past.
However, this has been addressed to a great extent with the establishment Haoram Farmer Producer Company Ltd (HFPCL) in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
He informed that there are five HFPCL units in Ukhrul district and one in Kamjong district, and chief operating officers have been assigned to look into the marketing needs of the local farmers under each of the units.
Currently, there are four fanning groups operating under MOVCDNER scheme in Phungcham village with each group comprised of 20 farmers.
There are around 300 Kiwi farmers in three villages of Phungcham, Paorei and Peh.
As part of the training programme, DSSS also distributed Microfert L (organic fertiliser), and cabbage and maize seeds to the trainees.