Capacity building programme conducted for tribal farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Chandel, August 14 2025: A capacity building-cum-input distribution programme titled "Empowerment of Tribal Farmers under NICRA Project" was held at Chandel Christian Village community hall under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project, KVK Chandel on Wednesday.

Delivering the keynote address, Subject Matter Specialist (Soil & Water Conservation) and NICRA project nodal officer Dr Kangjam Sonamani Singh, stressed the importance of empowering tribal farmers in Chandel, which is an aspirational district, by reinforcing local agricultural practices to meet challenges posed by climate change.

He underscored the need for continuous research, development, demonstration and application of improved production and risk management technologies.

Dr Sonamani also noted that rainfall variability has now become a norm in the state, marked by uneven timing and intensity of rainfall.

He further warned that precipitation is increasingly unevenly distributed, leading to wetter monsoons, drier lean seasons, and protracted dry spells often triggering drought-like and flood situations.

With rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, the district is projected to face more extreme rainfall events and reduced crop yields, elaborated the nodal officer.

Highlighting that small and marginal farmers dependent on subsistence farming and shifting cultivation will be the most affected, Dr Sonamani called for urgent formulation of climate-proof plans and climate-ready policies.

He stressed the adoption of location-specific climate-smart technology packages demonstrated through participatory approaches, ensuring a climate-resilient production system and ecosystem.

Addressing the participants, KVK, Chandel senior scientist and head Dr A Ameeta Devi expressed hope that Chandel farmers would become examples of perseverance amid changing weather patterns.

She assured full support to help tribal farmers achieve sustainability and profitability, and advocated integrated farming models incorporating livestock to mitigate crop failure risks.

During the technical sessions, resource persons deliberated on topics such as vermicomposting, beekeeping, improved composite fishery techniques, sustainable crop production and goat rearing.

Later, 36 farmers received input materials including cross-breed Hampshire piglets, White Peking ducklings, feed, medicines, supplements, waterers, bee boxes and shade nets (75 per cent).

The programme was also attended by SMS (Agronomy) Dr Khumlo Levish, SMS (Plant Breeding) Leenda Monsang, SMS (Horticulture), Lavid Anal and STO (Farm Management) Super Kamei.

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