Shyamkumar appeals farmers to stop using fertilizers to achieve organic State status
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 01 2018: Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar appealed to the farmers of the State to refrain from using fertilizers so that Manipur can achieve an organic State status.

He urged the farmers to unanimously stop using fertilisers for a healthier State.

The Minister was speaking at the 'Two Days Interface Programme on Strengthening of Farmer Producer Companies under MOVCD-NER' held at the training hall of Directorate of Agriculture, Sanjenthong, organised by Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation and Department of Agriculture.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Th Shyamkumar said that he has proposed to the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers that the Government should ban chemical fertilisers in the State and replace it with vermicompost.

Speaking on the health hazards of chemical fertilizers, he said that the rise in number of cancer cases in the State is alarming and it is the collective responsibility of all the stakeholders to take up remedial measures.

Shyamkumar further advised the officers of the Department to impart awareness, among the farmers, about organic cultivation and various schemes/programmes for them.

He said there is a need for an emotional connection between the farmers and the officials of the Department to succeed in achieving an organic State status.

Letkhogin Haokip, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) said,,, for the State to be self-sufficient when it comes to food, cooperation is needed from both the Government and the farmers in the State.

Expressing serious concern over dependence to others States for essential commodities, he said that all stakeholders must contribute to make Manipur a self reliant and self-sufficient State.

JC Ramthanga, Principal Secretary (Horticulture and Soil Conservation) said the continuous usage of fertilisers has been the cause of various health ailments.

He said the ultimate objective of the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), under the Central scheme MOVCD-NER (Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region) is to make Manipur a 100 percent organic State while various fitting programmes are being undertaken in all the districts of the State.

He said, as part of the objective, establishment of cold chains in all the districts are in the process and added that the Government alone cannot ensure success of the programme, as full cooperation is needed from the farmers/Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) and the process of setting up of various Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) are under process as well.

Farmer Producer Company is a way forward to get some form of land consolidation and an integration of smallholders within an agricultural value chain which is critical to tackle the problem of rural agrarian crisis.

In India, FPOs are registered under Indian Companies Act, which allows 10 or more producers to form an organisation to transact business in which profit is distributed among its members.

10 FPCs constituting 500 farmers each are formed under the scheme, which started in 2015-16.The objectives of FPC are- collectivisation of farmers producers to facilitate improved access to investment, technology, inputs and markets; to create easy linkages for availing benefits under various programmes and schemes of both Central and State Govt among others.

The advantages of the FPC include confidence building to the private investor; to assist in availing benefits both from public and private sector; to strengthen the bargaining power; becoming eligible to avail equity grant and credit guarantee fund scheme, venture capital fund of SFAC; getting advantage while purchasing big machineries etc.

The inaugural programme was also attended by Ph Rajendra Singh, Director, Department of Agriculture; K Kipgen, Director, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation; K Debadutta Sharma, Mission Director, MOMA; Dept officers concerned; FPCs, Board of Directors and service providers.

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