Biswajit assures help to oil palm farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 19 2022: Agriculture minister Thongam Biswajit has assured to provide assistance to farmers interested in oil palm cultivation.

The minister made the announcement at the closing cere mony of the four-day state level Krishi Mela organised under the theme 'Transforming Agriculture' by State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) Manipur held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound, on Saturday.

Speaking as the chief guest, Biswajit highlighted the financial footfalls of oil palm cultivation and its various uses.

He pointed out the government's initiative to promote oil palm cultivation in Jiribam district and informed that the Central government has so far spent Rs 11,000 crore in promoting oil palm cultivation across the country.

The state government has also laid out detailed planning to provide assistance in developing watershed management and other infrastructure for the purpose, he said while urging interested farmers to submit application as soon as possible.

The minister also cleared the doubts regarding environmental impact of oil palm cultivation and explained that the only problem is when individual farms resort to large scale deforestation for the purpose.

However, there will be no deforestation activities in the state since the cultivation will be taken up only in open and unutilised spaces, he said and added that the project is a farmer oriented scheme.

Highlighting the restrictions lifted from bamboo, which was earlier classified as forest product, the minister encouraged the farmers to take up bamboo farming stating that it will help in enhancing income of farmers and promoting handicraft products of the state to a greater extent.

Biswajit also called for adopting modern technologies of agriculture to cut cost and enhance profit by boosting productivity.

Awareness programmes on agriculture techniques using minimum amount of water and chemical fertilisers will be taken up through district agriculture officers, he said.

Acknowledging issues arising out of lacking communication between officials and farmers, the minister called for better communication and understanding between the two sides.

He also said that the department will issue soil health cards to genuine farmers but land owners, who lease out their farms to farmers, will not get the same.

He also encouraged farmers to adopt natural farming for a sustainable agriculture practice.

Farmers with high production from different districts were encouraged by presenting awards during the function.

N Jila won the best farmer's award in fishery.

K Herojit, N Ingocha, N Herojit and U Premila won best farmer's awards in horticulture, sericulture, veterinary and agriculture sector respectively.

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