Kharif Campaign and Krishi Mela 2013 puts spotlight on farmer needs

IMPHAL, April 3: A three day long Kharif Campaign, 2013 and Krishi Mela was inaugurated today at the Iboyaima Shanglen by Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir. The dual functions was organized by the Department of Agriculture in association with the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA).

Speaking at the occasion, Minister Nasir said the chemical and ecological imbalance today has brought about a decline in the production of agricultural products in the state which has further created  price rise, he added.

The Minister said efforts are on for a proper state policy to protect  agricultural land in the state.

Dr M Premjit Singh, Director of Extension Education, Central of Agricultural University,  in his speech said agricultural production in the state is very low when compared to that of other states in the country. Due to climate change including less rainfall, the farmers are unable to fully utilize the seeds and other items distributed by the Department, he said.

The use of pesticide is however very less in the North Eastern region of the country when compared to other parts of the country, the Director said.

Encouraging organic farming in the state will increase the agricultural yield in the state which will help the farmers to export their products to outside the state, he said and went on to observe, “Agriculture cannot be sustainable in the long run and as such people should emphasis on agro-forestry and sericulture”.

There has been a rapid increase in jhumming and deforestation which needs to be controlled at the earliest unless it will affect the agricultural sector in the state in the long run, he added.

Commissioner Agriculture, Rajesh Agrawal in his presidential speech said “Under the umbrella of the agriculture department, the farmers will have a platform to showcase their priducts during the campaign", further validating the need to encourage such campaigns in the future.

Meanwhile, the results of the state and district level crop competition on rice paddy (2011-2012) were also announced during the function.