Imphal, April 12: Along with commencing harvesting of the potatoes cultivated by the Society for People Advancement of Manipur under the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme of the Agriculture Department, Government of Manipur at 11 different places with the target of producing 2436 metric tonne of potatoes, steps have already been taken up to ensure adequate supply of the same to the people.

The potato farms where the cultivation have been taken up successfully by the Society with the main objective of producing 2436 metric tonne are Ishikha, Lousipat, Tangkham, Nongren, Andro, Phaknung, Pukhao, Uyumpok, Kakching Khunou, Mayang Langjing and Pheidinga.

The Society is planning to market the potato production at the rate of Rs 8 kg per and the total estimated amount that could be fetched is said to be around Rs 1,94,88,000 .

The potato cultivation had been carried out under the supervision of the senior scientists of the Central Agriculture University and ICAR right from the first day of planting the seeds to the harvesting stage.

Interacting with mediapersons during the inspection of the potato farm at Ishikha today, Agriculture Officer (Chemistry) Pheiroijam Rajendra under whose technical advice the potato cultivation has been taken up, said that the aspiration and target set up by the Department as well as by the farmers from the first phase of the cultivation taken up in association with various social organisations in different places under IPM programme of the Agriculture Department has been little short due to delay and climatic changes.

Nonetheless, associated organisations and the farmers who are directed working in the field have committed themselves to carry on working and bring about a green revolution in the State.

Representatives of the Society for People Advancement of Manipur who were also present at the occasion pointed out that green revolution is the need of the hour to meet the food requirement of the every increasing population of the State.

However, in the existing situation, the rate of food production has not been in consonance with the annual per capital income of the people.

So there is the need to promote a work culture among the people.

Eighty percent of the population in the State depends on farming.

But out of the total 1,52,468 hectare of cultivable land available only 5,765 hectares are being utilised successfully for double cropping and the remaining 1, 46,693 hectares remains idle for around 8 months are harvesting.

This is one of the low socio-economic condition of the farmers in the State.

Taking due consideration of this fact, people and organisations in other parts of the State should also launch similar campaign so that the cultivable land lying idle can be utilised and increase the food production.

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