Phungyar farmers exhorted to forgo jhum farming
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 24 2025:
Eastern Border Areas Development Authority (EBADA), in association with Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department, organised a one-day combined district farmers' training on "Ill Effect of Jhum Cultivation and Its Alternatives' in Phungyar block HQ on Thursday.
EBADA project director Nongthombam Loyalakpa, Ukhrul district agriculture officer Thuimaya Kashung, Senapati district agriculture officer Athaipu Panmei and other subject experts attended the programme, which was participated by farmers from around 20 villages under Phungyar block.
Loyalakpa expressed hope that the training programme will help around 300 farmers of the area in adopting shifting cultivation in place of jhum cultivation.
He said that the training aims to sensitise the farmers on cash crop alternatives like tree (stink) beans and lemons, identifying and preventing pest infestations, enhancing both farmers' income and productivity through integrated farming by incorporating beekeeping practice in farms among others.
Similar training programmes will also be organised in Tamenglong, Noney and other hill districts, he added.