Governor inaugurates ATIC building
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, July 28 2014 : Governor of Manipur, Vinod Kumar Duggal inaugurated a newly constructed ATIC building at the College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal complex on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that post harvest is also "our continuing need as a good percentage of the yield in our country gets wasted due to poor harvesting." He also suggested that CAU should try to come forward with appropriate technology for small farmers in the Northeast in this regard.

He noted that people are talking of organic farming and its potential but without proper guidance and hand holding for obtaining certification, it will be difficult.

Governor inaugurates ATIC building Pix - Kiran Singh (DIPR)

"I say this because in the recently announced Union budget, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for development of commercial organic farming in NE.

We must utilize these funds wisely not only in increasing the production of organic foods in the region including Manipur but also educating and sensitizing that the growers that marketing of these much in demand and well priced in the national and international markets will not be possible unless a proper certification has been obtained from the authorized agencies" .

Manipur is largely dependent on its paddy cultivation, he said, adding various technologies have been developed for wet and farming and Manipur's acreage yield is one the best in the country for its wetland cultivation.

But Duggal said it is unfortunate that in the hills where about 40 percent of the population lives, there is acute shortage of paddy with the increase in population being one of the reasons.

Another area where Manipur can do well is in growing orchids, Duggal said, but added that due to various reasons resulting in disturbing their environment many of the orchid verities are becoming rare.

Duggal said efforts have been made to conserve these orchid varieties but at the same time there is urgent need to identify species and develop hybrids which can be marketed.

He further pointed out some of the finest varieties of pineapple are grown in Manipur, but because of the state's location, the transportation cost of the fruit to the outside markets becomes forbiddingly high and hence plenty gets wasted.