CM assures full support in introducing double cropping
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 31 2022: Expressing concern over the non-utilisation of large tract of agricultural fields for seven to eight months in a year, Chief Minister N Biren has appealed to farmers of the state to utilise their paddy fields post-harvest as well starting from this year and assured of all-out support from the government in this regard.

He was speaking as chief guest of the distribution cum demonstration programme of farm machineries and implements under Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) organised by the department of agriculture at City Convention Hall, Palace Compound, here, on Monday.

Noting that the main concern of farmers is lack of water source during the off season, the CM vowed to set up a special sub committee comprising officials and experts of agriculture, water resources (former IFCD), horticulture, minor irrigation and other departments to look into the issue.

A toll free number will be operated to facilitate farmers, who are willing to utilise their paddy fields after the paddy harvesting season.

Farmers can also inform the government about the possible source of water for irrigating the fields so that the government could take up necessary steps.

Urging the farmers to heed to his call, the CM reiterated that the government will ensure provision of all requirements including seeds and water to the farmers.

Biren emphasised on the need for water harvesting during the monsoon and at the same time highlighted that ponds are being developed at various locations under the Sarovar Mission.

These water bodies will be utilised to irrigate the farmlands where farmers can produce different crops including Chak-hao, ginger, turmeric, pineapple and chilli among others, he said and suggested that farmers dig up pond in their farmland for irrigation purpose instead of just relying on the government.

The CM explained about the Prime Minister's Atmanirbhar Bharat, self-reliant India and said that it is being aggressively implemented across the state in all sectors.

The government is focusing on various sectors so that the state also contributes in this movement for self-reliance, he said, highlighting the recently held Fish Fair where several fish species including indigenous ones were made available, as well as the export of various items including Chak-hao.

Under the vision of PM Modi, the state is moving forward, Biren said and added that it is almost like a dream that today funds for welfare schemes are directly transferred into accounts of the farmers and beneficiaries of other schemes.

The government has earmarked Rs 80 crore for procuring local rice varieties from the farmers for distribution to the public at subsidised rate under NFSA scheme, he said and exhorted the farmers to put their best efforts including utilisation of new technologies and farm machineries to boost production as they no longer have to worry about marketing.

Biren also emphasised on the need to minimise use of chemical fertilisers and appealed to the farmers to adopt organic fertilisers and nano fertilisers.

The government is in the process of producing organic manure from the 'Phumdis' of Loktak Lake and make it available to the public.

Manures are great source of soil nutrients, he said and encouraged farmers to take up widespread practice of cattle farming alongside their paddy and vegetable farming.

He also said that the government has taken up an initiative to introduce Mithun farming to replace cow for meat consumption.

He said that the department would be distributing 1700 numbers of farm machineries to farmers.

Several such machineries have also been distributed in the past, he said, while urging the farmers to utilise those machineries and contribute in boosting food production capacity of the state.

Agriculture minister Thongam Biswajit, who presided over the function, said that agriculture is an important sector which can boost the state's socio-economic condition and GDP as well.

The state is losing paddy lands at a rapid pace and the main reason behind this situation is farmers looking for alternative means of livelihood due to lack of productivity in the absence of proper irrigation and marketing policy.

Today, the government is promoting natural farming and new technologies of farming while exploring ways to enhance productivity and increase income of the farmers.

The agriculture department is all set to take up four types of demonstrations at different parts of the state including natural farming through use of cow manure, organic farming through use of vermi-compost and others, farming using nano fertilisers, and farming using chemical fertilisers to compare the productions capability, he said and urged interested FPOs to contact the department for participation.

Nano-urea is a new technology in the field of agriculture and it should be applied in the field after mixing with water.

Since half litre of nano-urea is similar to 45 kg bag of urea, the new product will become a lot more convenient for farmers, he said.

He, however, advised the farmers against excessive use of chemical fertilisers as it leads to several health issues.

About the farm machineries being distributed, Biswajit said that the machineries are distributed with last year's second instalment of SMAM fund.

The government had submitted utilisation certificate and first instalment of fund for the current year will be released soon.

Once the fund is released, the department will distribute machineries to other farmers as well.

Delivering the key-note address, agriculture commissioner RK Dinesh explained that SMAM is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2014-15 by the ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare to maximise use of mechanisation in farming.

In order to meet the rising power requirement due to introduction of farm mechanisation, the government is working on increasing the power availability in farmland from 2 kW/ha (approx) in 2013-14 to 4.0 kW/ha by the end of 2022, he added.

He further explained how farmers can avail benefits of the scheme including subsidies.

The CM along with the agriculture minister and participants also inspected the farm machineries and implements.

Demonstrations on farm drone for application of pesticides and other machineries like power thresher and hay baler were showcased as part of the function.

The machineries distributed to farmers at subsidised rate include tractor, power tiller, reaper, harvester, thresher, leveller, hay baler, digger and transplanter among others.

The function was also attended by Hill Areas Committee chairman and Nungba MLA Diganglung Gangmei, Thanga MLA T Robindro, Patsoi MLA Sapam Kunjakeswor (Keba), Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute, Lamlai MLA Kh Ibomcha, Wangkhei MLA Th Arunkumar, Hiyanglam MLA Dr Y Radheshyam, MAHUD commissioner M Joy, secretary to CM Geoffrey, agriculture director N Gojendro and other senior officials of agriculture department.

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