Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema has advised all to judiciously use the land sustainably by adopting proper land-use planning for increasing ecological and livelihood security.
According to a DIPR report, the APC said that unlike other states, the land holding pattern was peculiar in Nagaland which was owned by individual, clan and community and in this regard, he stated that it was everyone’s collective responsibility to use the land sustainably.
Pointing out that about 70 % of the population inhabited in rural area were engaged in agri & allied activities, Kikheto said that about 73 % were engaged in jhum/shifting cultivation and the remaining 27% in terrace rice cultivation (TRC).
He however, said that although the traditional jhum cultivation was a “way of life” for Nagas, it was neither economically remunerable nor ecologically sustainable in the long run.
With the pandemic and the drought-like situation faced this year, he said that it was essential for farmers to change from traditional farming to improved modern farming practices.
In the advisory, APC said that conserving or preserving top hill and steep areas of the landscape/watershed would serve as recharging zone for the benefit of availing moisture at the downstream areas.
He advised on adopting diversification of crops by cultivating climate resilient crops and mixed cropping in order to cope with uncertainty of climatic factors; farmers may also convert their jhum plots to alternative farming like cash crops.
Identify potential areas for settled farming near the water bodies and emphasise on spring shed approach, catchment area treatment and other similar intervention etc.; as committed during the drought-like situation, the state government through the department of agriculture, horticulture and FOCUS project have distributed seeds to almost all villages in the state.
The government might not be able to provide required seeds at all times, therefore, APC advised the farming community to revive the age-old tradition of preservation & management of seeds by preserving the best mother plant and its produce for seed storage.
Informing that soil testing laboratories had been recently established in 11 districts and the mini soil testing labs were expected to be set up in all the 74 blocks, the APC advised the farmers to avail the facility to test their soil and ascertain the soil health status so that officers and scientist of the agri & allied, KVKs etc., could guide them.
Farmers, village councils, civil societies, church organisations and officials of agri & allied departments, KVKs, ICAR etc. have been requested to create mass awareness so that the farming system is improved and prepare for any eventualities in the coming years.