State level coordination committee meeting for doubling the Farmers’ income by March, 2022 was organised by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre on April 26.
The meeting was organized with an objective to develop concrete action plan for doubling farmers’ income.
CAU, Imphal vice chancellor and chairman of the meeting prof. M.Premjit Singh in his inaugural speech stressed on scientific farming; diversification and intensification of rice fallows with pulses, oilseed, vegetables etc; promotion of location specific integrated farming system and organic farming, protected cultivation, speciality farming; improving the jhum land with agro forestry, high value spices and horticultural crops; post-harvest processing and management; improving the availability of critical inputs like seeds, planting materials, piglets, chicks, fish seed, credits; development and adoption of rainwater harvesting and conservation for lean period. “Doubling farmer’s income would not be possible without improving the allied sectors of agriculture like livestock, poultry and fisheries” he added. He also emphasised on improvement of road, electricity and agriculture related infrastructure like market infrastructure, irrigation, cold storage, warehouses, processing units etc.
ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umiam, Meghalaya director and convenor of the meeting Dr. S V Ngachan discussed the ways and means to reach the objective of doubling farmers’ income. He highlighted the promotion of seed production of major crops in a participatory ways and opening of more accredited nurseries unit for production and supply of quality planting materials. “Horticulture, floriculture, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants should be promoted in Cluster based to ease in value addition and marketing” he added. He further added that mechanization of agriculture from production to value addition should be emphasized with location specific implements and stressed on custom hiring centre. He also emphasized on mobilizing farmers into groups like SHGs, cooperative societies for better backward and forward linkages of the farmers.
Director, ATARI Zone III,Umiam Dr. Bidyut C. Deka, director, ICAR- NRC on Mithun Dr.Abhijit Mitra, joint director, ICAR Nagaland centre Dr. D J Rajkhowa, director CIH Dr. Lallan Ram, dean, NU-SASRD professor R C Gupta, director, Department of Agriculture Helie Rupreo, deputy director, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Moa Walling, joint director, Department of Vety. and AH, Dr. K. D. Seema, scientists of ICAR Nagaland centre, representatives of KVK Dimapur, Phek, Peren, Tuensang, Kohima, Longleng, Zunheboto and Wokha attended the meeting and provided valuable inputs to achieve the objective of doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.