Efforts on to make up for paddy crop failure: Dir
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 14 2022: Agriculture director Ningthoujam Gojendro and District Agriculture Officer (DAO), Imphal West S Kenedy along with members of Nongchup Imphal Loumi Chaokhat Thourang Lup launched a Rabi campaign at Sairemkhul Polangshoi Maning Loukol on Monday.

The campaign was launched by sowing pea seeds in the field.

Regarding the campaign, director Gojendro acknowledged that owing to erratic rainfall this year, many fields failed to harvest crops.

However, under the strict supervision of CM N Biren and Agriculture minister Th Biswajit, the reason for the failed harvest has been attributed to occurrence of drought in around 10,000 'pari' out of the 1.95 lakh 'pari' in the state.

Thus, steps have been taken up to plant mustard and peas in these fields while the soil still retains some moisture, as compensatory crops.

Meanwhile, around 15,000 pari of agricultural land will be sown with seeds in stock, which have been procured from National Food Corporation under the National Food Security Mission as part of the National Seed Corporation, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) .

The seeds will be distributed via the DAOs concerned to be sown in the empty paddy fields, as part of the government's initiative to ensure the fields are kept green all year round instead of remaining barren for 7-8 months.

Informing that a committee chaired by additional CS P Vaiphei has been formed under the supervision of the CM, Gojendro said that the Committee has had two meetings at the chief ministerial level, wherein discussions were held on providing irrigation facilities to the fields through tube and bore wells.

In his speech, DAO Imphal West S Kenedy informed that around 2800 'pari' have been identified for planting mustard and another 3360 pari for sowing peas.

As the seed stock available with the government would not be enough for the size of the cultivable land mentioned, the farmers are sowing their own seeds initially.

Nongchup Imphal Loumi Chaokhat Thourang Lup secretary Kongthoujam Brajamani said that the body is planning to sow peas in 50 hectares of land and mustard in another 100 hectares, as part of its objective to make the state self-sustainable.

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