Agricultural policy of Manipur state
- Part 2 -

Prof N Ram Singh *

The condition of Paddy field in Thoubal Areas in last week of July 2012 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

To increase agricultural production and productivity, greater attention will have to be given in future to soil conservation measures. The 'aim of soil conservation is to achieve maximum protection, production and profit. This 3-p formula represents the essence of all soil conservation work. In future, agricultural plan strategy should lay emphasis on protection of forests, afforestation, contour bunding, bench terracing and land levelling etc. to increase the fertility status of soil which will be helpful in raising both agricultural production and productivity.

Soil and water conservation assumes paramount importance in preventing land degradation, conservation of precipitated water, and ensuring adequate ground water recharge. Important measures of water conservation are bunding, conservation ditching, bench terracing, watershed development, tillage, vegetal cover, contour farming and strip croppmg.

The role of farm ponds or watershed in collecting and storing runoff water to provide crop life saving irrigation, particularly during moisture-scarcity periods, in rainfed areas, will gain more and more appreciation. A watershed is an area having common drainage. The rain water falling in the area coming within the ridge-line can be harvested, and made to flow out of the area through a common drainage channel.

Thus watershed encompasses both arable and non-arable land. The specific objectives of the watershed programme are;
(i) promotion of in situ soil and water conservation,
(ii) optimal use of land to minimise risk in rainfed farming,
(iii) increase in production and productivity of lands and better returns to farmers on a sustainable basis through adoption of better technology and better cropping pattern, and diversification of sources of farmer's income,
(iv) proper management of non-arable lands to conserve soil, moisture and store runoff water for recharging ground water, and
(v) production of fodder, fuel, fibre, timber and fruits in the watershed area and at the same time help to maintain ecological balance.

The main objective of water management is to provide suitable moisture and environment for the crops to obtain optimum yields with maximum economy. To achieve efficiency in sue of water, it is very essential to employ appropriate devices for delivering water. To employ appropriate devices for delivering water for efficient use of water in the state, the following strategy should be adopted:

i) There should be water budgeting and crop planning in command areas of irrigation projects,

ii) There should be crop diversification to attain higher return per unit of water used,

iii) Conveyance losses should be minimised by laying of PVC pipe lines or field channels,

iv) There should be judicious use of ground water through sprinkler or drip irrigation system,

v) To minimise friction losses and to have efficient water conveyance, plastic pipe (PVC Pipe) should be used.

An assured and regular supply of input has been the kingpin of the agricultural plan strategy. Therefore an assured input supply should be essential part of agricultural plant strategy in the state. The use of the HYV seeds has been very important. The breakthrough in the yield rates is possible only due to the use of HYV seeds with prescribed dosages of fertilizers, water and plant protection material. The HYV seeds are capable of giving higher yields. They are resistant to pests and diseases. They have higher content to proteins and minerals. Their crops are of shorter duration and they have much adaptability to different ecological conditions.

Agricultural plant strategy should envisage to change substantially the existing cropping pattern. Change in cropping pattern implies change in proportion of area under different crops. Traditional food crops such as cereals, pulses and small millets are substituted for cash crops such as oilseeds, cotton, jute, sugarcane, onion, potato. Change is cropping pattern occurs due to expansion in irrigation facilities, availability of better seeds and fertilizers, sharp rise in the price of crops, impact of new technology and farmers education. Highly productive and less remunerative when the above facilities are made available.

Agricultural Plan strategy of Manipur state needs to consider about 'Incentive Price'. Incentive price is the key stone of the New Agricultural Strategy. Incentive price can be defined as that price which offers to the farmers certain positive incentives for raising their farm yields. The incentives can be in the form of a comparatively higher level of prices or in the form of assured prices or even both.

The incentive prices perform following functions:

i) Encourage agricultural production.

ii) Ensure relevant income levels of farmers.

iii) Encourage capital formation in agriculture.

iv) Protect consumer interest with the rise in price.

v) Maintain stability in prices.

The agricultural price policy protects the interest of cultivators and consumers and maintains stability in prices through its instruments. These instruments are:

i) Minimum support prices.

ii) Procurement prices,

iii) Issue prices, and

iv) Buffer stock operations.

Suggestions for Agricultural Policy of Manipur State

1. The State Government needs to formulate a development strategy for integrated land use with equal emphasis on proper management of forest, water bodies and crop lands.

2. Climatic condition in the State is comparatively more suited for fruits, tubers, vegetables and spices than for cereals. Therefore these should be grown with rice.

3. Diversification of the agricultural base should be made with greater thrust on agro-horticulture, mulberry, agro-forestry, caster and cotton etc. alternative use of land such as alley cropping, ley farming, tree farming and water conservation should be promoted in the state.

4. The present way of allocation of land under different crops by individual farmers is not in the best interest of the farmers and the state. Therefore, a new cropping pattern should be followed in the state. A greater attention should be paid to potato, tubers mixed farming and mulberry sericulture etc in the drought prone area.

5. Special attention should be paid to the optimum utilization of available water resources through conservation at local flood prone area.

6. The traditional methods of water storage and contingency micro dams in the rural area should be encouraged by the state.

7. The irrigation potential created over the years has not been effective in the state. The non-utilization of the created irrigation potential occurs mainly due to delay in the land leveling and lack of involvement of farmers. Efforts should be made for full utilization of created potential through constructing filed channels and involving farmers in it.

8. Water budgeting and crop planning should be done in command area of minor and medium irrigation projects for better water management.

9. Crop diversification should be done to maintain optimum return from the farm.

10. Conveyance loses of irrigation water needs to be minimized, use of plastic (PVC pipes and polyethene) in irrigation will prove to be a boon in increasing after efficiency, decreasing waterlogging and soil salinity and in minimizing wastage during water conveyance.

11. Prudent application of advanced methods of irrigation viz. sprinkler, drop irrigation and use of PVC pipes in water conveyance will enable maximum utilization of scarce resources in hill areas of the state.

12. Watershed development Boards and Councils needs to be strengthen at the State Government functionaries for effective implementation and continuous monitoring of such programmes.

13. Soil and water management programme will play a vital role in preventing land degradation, conservation of precipitated water and ensuring adequate ground water recharge. Therefore, the programme should be given greater importance.

15. Improved method of shifting cultivation for sustainable Jhum cycle and hill agriculture need to be prioritise

16. Agronomic soil conservation measures such as vegetal cover, contour, farming and strip cropping should also be given greater importance.

17. Private participation should be encouraged to undertake soil conservation work and local and micro dam construction. Financial assistance with incentives needs to be provided to those individuals who undertake this work privately.

18. The consumption of HYV seeds, fertilizers and protection materials is not upto the mark of the national level. Therefore, agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers and plant protection material etc. would be required at subsidized rates to marginal and small farmers. The use of traditionally and own seeds of the farmers also needs to be protected for sustainable agricultural development of Manipur state. Those seeds and the indegenous method of farming of the state is climate and eco friendly particularly for different agro-climate conditions of Manipur.

concluded ..