Capacity building-cum-input distribution programme under NICRA Project organised
Source: The Sangai Express

Chandel, November 15 2025: A capacity building-cum-input distribution programme of vegetable crops was organised today at the Conference Hall of KVK, Chandel under the "National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)" Project, KVK Chandel.

Dr Kangjam Sonamani Singh, Subject Matter Specialist (Soil & Water Conservation), the Nodal Officer, NICRA Project, Chandel, in his keynote address, stressed the need and importance of working on enhancing resilience of the local agriculture practices to climate change and climate vulnerability through strategic research, development, demonstration and application of improved production and risk management technologies.

He mooted that in recent times, rainfall variability has become the norm in the State which is characterised by unevenness in the time and amount of rainfall.

With increasing variability, precipitation is more unevenly distributed over time resulting in wetter wet periods and drier dry periods.

Some locations may receive a year's amount of rainfall in just a few days' time, have elongated dry spells followed by intense downpour, thus alternating between drought-like situations and flood.

The district is also projected to experience more extreme rainfall and reduction in crop yields.

As subsistence level farming is coupled with prevalent shifting cultivation, the small and marginal farmers will be most affected due to climate change, he said.

Hence, there is an urgent need for devising a climate proof plan and climate ready policy for climate compatible agricultural development in Chandel.

Dr A Ameeta Devi, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK Chandel expressed that the traditional rainfall pattern has changed drastically over the years.

Due to the population pressure, demand for food has increased.

She added that a diversified cropping system is needed for enhancing income.

The aspirational district of Chandel needs to focus more on organic fertilisers and minimise the use of chemicals in their farms.

Meanwhile, Ps Lavid Anal, Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture) laid down in detail the package of practices for the successful cultivation of the horticultural crops in the rabi season.

The programme was also attended by KI Levish, SMS (Agronomy), Ts Leenda Monsang, SMS (Plant Breeding), Super Kamei (Farm Manager) and Lungni Anal, SRF (NICRA Project).

Later, seeds of field peas, radish, carrot, cabbage and broccoli were distributed to the 44 farmers who participated in the said programme.

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