"Intervention of KVKs and adoption of new technologies can double farmers' income by 2025, if not 2020"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 21 2019: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Umiam Director Dr Bidyut C Deka has exuded confidence that the farmers income in the State could be doubled by 2025, if not by 2022, with the intervention of KVKs and adoption of new technologies.

He also informed that ICAR, CAU and other authorities concerned are giving more emphasis on organic farming and integrated farming system in the entire North East region to enhance the income of the farmers in the State.

Intervention of KVKs and adoption of new technologies can double farmers' income by 2025, if not 2020

The Director was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of QRT meeting with KVKs of Manipur and Travel Workshop, which held today at the training hall of KVK, Imphal East in Andro.

He said that ICAR and CAU have been trying to improve agriculture in the State and pave the way for generating more income for the farmers, who do not even have much farming land.

Bidyut also claimed that necessary plans are being made to popularise technologies of integrated farming system in the next couple of years.

Stating that a 20 hectare cluster demonstration was done to eight KVKs of Manipur (excluding Bishnupur KVK) in this year, he further stated that efforts are also being made to extend organic farming to 20 more hectares of land in the next two or three years.

Since 2017 onwards, in the level of KVKs, two villages each had been identified for each KVKs for doubling farmers income and relevant works were initiated in two particular villages with a motive to increase the farmers' income by 20 percent per year or double it within 5 years, he added.

When asked whether he believe that the income of the farmers in the State could be doubled by 2022, he replied that with the intervention of KVKs and adoption of new technologies, the farmers income in the State could be doubled by 2025, if not by 2022.Informing about the QRT Meeting, he said that a high level team led by Dr Kokate has been visiting Manipur KVKs to review the initiatives that have been taken up by KVKs in the State since 2011 till date.

"An assessment will be done on the performance and a report based on the performance will be submitted to authorities concerned to decide what and how much assistance are required by the KVKs.

Based on the reports, an EFC document will be prepared for the tenure 2020 to 2025", he added.

An exhibition displaying several produces of KVKs in the State was also inaugurated by QRT Chairman Dr KD Kokate before convening today's review meeting.