ICAR's State level training program begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 11 2011: A State Level Trainers' Training Programme organised by ICAR Manipur Centre on water management entitled "Recent Trends in Water Management for Rainfed Agriculture" commenced from today at the Lamphelpat complex of the Centre.

The training programme, which will continue till October 24, was inaugurated Agriculture Minister P Parijat Singh as chief guest.

In all 25 trainers from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Horticulture & soil Conservation, Government of Manipur as well as from SMART Society, Rangmei Naga Baptist Association Manipur, DSSS (Mantripukhri) and Don Bosco Mangal are taking part in the programme.

speaking at the occasion, Minister Parijat noting ICAR's contributing since long for farm research and development of useful technologies, emphasised that such innovative endeavours should be transferred to the farmers through the officials, KVKs and NGOs.

He also mentioned that after taking back of the Sangaipat farm by the state government, ICAR has limited area for research and seed multiplication and many programmes are unable to come up.

Parijat also assured his best possible effort to arrange for an alternative area for the Sangaipat farm.

While taking a tour of the farm site he applauded activities of the Centre.

Prior to inauguration of the training programme, a website for Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Imphal West, ICAR www.kvkimphalwest.org was also launched by the Chief Guest.

He also advised the trainers need for updating knowledge on conservation of water as most of the crops in Manipur are rainfed.

Director (Agriculture) L Palandra Singh in his address said only 20 percent of cultivable land is irrigated and 80 percent rainfed.

Hence there is the need for construction of conservation of water through different method such as construction of water harvesting pond, mulching, strip cropping etc.

Retired Dean of Central Agriculture University Iroisemba Imphal Professor A Ibopishak Singh, who also addressed the gathering urged the Government of Manipur to introduce or promulgate ban on felling of trees in the hills as a source of conservation of moisture for the state like that of Nagaland.

In his presidential speech the joint Director of ICAR Manipur Centre Dr N Prakash said that by 2020 water requirement would be 29 per cent more for agriculture whereas its availability is likely to reduce by 12 per cent.

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