Imphal, January 29 2010: Officials of the state Agriculture department have inspected the IPM and INM mustard model seed village at Kakching and Maklang today.

The officials of the Agriculture Department included Commissioner Letkhogin Haokip, Deputy Director, G Shamu Kabui and Deputy Director (Soil Chemist), Ph Rajendro.

Inspecting the model village at Kakching Lousipat, Agriculture Commissioner, L Haokip said, model seed villages of bean would be set up in the hill areas in the line of the rice and mustard seed model villages set up in the valley.

The model seed village at Kakching Lousipat has been developed jointly by the Society for People's Advancement, Manipur and Agriculture department.

M-27 variety of mustard has been farmed at an area of 100 paris (acres) at the village.

After inspecting the mustard farm, the team also inspected the farming of potatoes in the 15-pari (acres) of land.

Later, the team inspected 1,550 paris of mustard farm at Maklang in Imphal West.

The site has been developed by the Nongchup Imphal Loumi-Shinmi Chaokhat Thourang Lup.

Joining the officials in inspecting the site, Director of Agriculture, L Palendro said, the department had distributed mustard seeds free of cost to farmers and the same was cultivated in 10,000 acres of agriculture land last year.

He said, the farming of mustard seed is known to many farmers as truthful level seed.

As such, the Agriculture department has a plan to procure 500 metric tons of mustard seed next year.

He added that the department is able to save the amount to be spent on purchasing mustard seeds to other states.

Ph Rajendra said, the department is planning to replace the M-27 variety of mustard with T-9 variety from next year.

The T-9 variety is cultivable without tilling the farm.

The department will also initiate the farming of Kachari Hawai in 30% of the land from next year.

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