Agricultural production increases
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, December 28 2016: Agriculture Department has made significant achievements over the last few years.

The Department implemented Central sponsored schemes for the welfare of the farmers of Manipur.

There is an increase of 6.44 percent in net cropping areas in 2015-16.Similarly, the gross cropping areas also increases to 35.38 percent in 2015-16 .

Double/multiple cropping in particular cropping areas has increased the cropping intensity in the State from 119.43 percent in 2001 to 151.90 percent in 2016 .

Production of food grains has increased from 4,39,000 MT in 2001-02 to 5,97,670 MT in 2015-16.The average productivity of rice and pulses in the State is more than the all India average.

For this significant achievement, the State was conferred the Krishi Karman Award by the Government of India in 2011-12 and 2012-13. During the year 2007-08, the Department introduced System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technology to achieve highest rice productivity in the State.

The conventional method was replaced with SRI, a cultivation method that is not only cost effective but also requires less quantity of inputs and water for irrigation.

Farmers of the State adopted this method after realizing its benefits.

The area under SRI cultivation also increases to 40,560 ha during 2015-16 comparing zero area in 2001-02 .

Hybrid rice cultivation was also taken up in association with progressive farmers with an average yield of 6178 kg/ha covering an area of 31,425 ha in 2015-16 .

Zero Tillage Method was also adopted successfully for cultivation of mustard and papeseeds in rabi season with low investment benefitting the farmers to a great extent.

The Department has also taken up steps to ensure availability of urea fertilizers in the State, which is important for increasing the productivity of food grains.

The State Government resorted to buffer stocking of urea fertilizer since 2012 to curb the erratic supply of urea fertilizer to farmers on time at the rate fixed by the Government of India.

Also during 2015-16, the State Government approved buffer stocking of 15,000 MT of urea fertilizer.

The Department implemented National Food Security Mission in 9 districts of the State.

SRI cultivation was taken up in 2015-16 covering a total area of 40,560 ha with a yield of 9905 kg/ha.

Hybrid rice cultivation was also taken up in a total area of 31,425 ha with a yield of 6278 kg/ha under the same scheme.

Under the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture(NAMSA), Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme was also implemented during 2015-16 in 9 districts.

Under this scheme, the Department took up integrated farming systems covering 232 ha under agro forestry, 232 ha under diary based cropping system, 288 ha under horticulture based farming system, 220 under livestock based farming system, 286 ha under fishery based farming system and 204 ha under Silvi Pastoral System.

Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna (RKVY), the department has taken up activities for increasing production/growth of agricultural crops and creation of infrastructures.

Integrated programme on crop production of peas, mustard, hybrid paddy, HYV paddy, blackgram, hybrid maize and popularization of bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides along with assistance to the farmers in procuring farm implements were taken up under the production/growth activities.

To facilitate storage of seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs essential for increasing productivity of agricultural crops, the Department has constructed seed godowns.

Number of farm ponds were constructed in 9 districts of the State for the farmers besides construction of a conference hall for extension reform activities at Porompat under RKVY scheme.

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