Imphal West farmers strive for increased productivity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 13 2015 : At least 400 farmers at Imphal West district are efficiently earning their livelihood by cultivating different varieties of crop every year, Imphal West District Assistant Horticulture Inspec-tor N Nandabir told The Sangai Express today.

Nandabir, who is running a stall at the ongoing National Manipur Horticulture Expo, 2015 at Hatta Kangjeibung said that around 800 farmers have been working in close coordination with Horticulture Department.

Out of them 400 farmers have been quite successful in cultivating seasonal vegetables on a commercial scale.

Exhibitor showcasing his cultivated products during the ongoing National Manipur Horticulture Expo, 2015 at Hatta Kangjeibung

One Ng Chandramani of Sanjenbam, Imphal West cultivated around 500 numbers of banana plants (Grain Nain) over one sangam.

Now, he has been producing 450 banana clusters every year.

Generally each cluster has 20 tiers (banana hands) and each tier comprises of 30 bananas.

A fully matured banana plant usually bears fruits for three consecutive years.

It is said that any farmer who can cultivate banana plants in substantial numbers can easily earn a decent income.

N Nandabir claimed that the banana plants cultivated by Ng Chandramani were provided by Horticulture Department free of cost.

Likewise, one Ch Rabi of Irom Meijrao has succeeded in cultivating onion of Prema variety on commercial scale.

The size of this variety of onion is such that just five or six units weigh 1 kg.

This variety of onion has been quite suitable to the soil of Manipur.

This variety is highly resistant to pests as well as diseases and they hardly require pesticides or insecticides.

On the other hand, cultivation of tomatoes of Badshah variety has become a passion for one N Lokendro of Tairenpokpi.

Each of the tomato plant cultivated by Lokendro bears more than 200 fruits.

This variety of tomato is also known for its resistance to pests and diseases.

Nandabir said that U-morok plants can be cultivated by using only foliage, dried leaves and plants without any earth.