Villagers sensitised on sustainable farming
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 23 2025: A day-long consultative and sensitisation programme on village-level geo-economic development through sustainable farming was held on Saturday at the Ramrei village community hall in Kamjong district.

The event was organised by Tribal Resource Development Centre (TRDC) in collaboration with Development for Rural People (DRP).

According to a TRDC release, the programme was moderated by Singmiyon, village secretary, while the former headman of Ramrei, Ramthar Zimik, delivered the invocation prayer for the officials and participants.

Over 100 attendees, including farmers, agriculturists, agronomists, and experts in organic farming attended the event on sustainable agricultural practices.

The gathering included Yaruingam Ningshen, an entrepreneur and agronomist, who encouraged farmers to assess soil fertility and suitability before cultivating crops.

He emphasised that large-scale cultivation of suitable crops could be converted into cash crops, enhancing income, economic stability, and self-sufficiency.

Furthermore, he underscored the benefits of organic farming on a large scale, citing its role in enriching soil quality, preventing erosion, and providing a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers and pesticides, ultimately promoting human health, the release said.

Dr Changmei Shadang, an eminent nutritionist, delivered an insightful presentation on the importance of a balanced diet.

She advised farmers to avoid excessive consumption driven by appetite and encouraged the inclusion of green and herbal tea in their daily diet, particularly given the high meat consumption among tribal communities.

Political activist-turned-entrepreneur Nin-greingam Kashung made a passionate appeal to farmers to refrain from using chemical fertilisers, which can degrade soil quality and harm the environment.

He advocated for the extensive use of green manure to enhance soil fertility.

Additionally, he urged farmers to explore market accessibility by collaborating with private enterprises to supply their agricultural products effectively, TRDC further said.

As part of the event, high-yielding seeds such as Roselle and Moringa were distributed to eager farmers by TRDC in collaboration with DRP.

Also, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the farmers' community and the Tribal Taste, a leading Manipur-based green tea manufacturer, it added.

Comment