STRATEGIES DISCUSSED TO IMPROVE AGRI & ALLIED SECTORS
Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Tuesday held stakeholders meeting wherein various issues and strategies were discussed to improve agricultural and allied sectors in the face of new challenges.
A press release by IGAR Nagaland Centre stated that Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland, Y.Kikheto Sema, while addressing the gathering as chief guest, deliberated on the importance of efficient water conservation and utilization.
He said adoption of technologies for water conservation should be promoted because attaining food security would be difficult without achieving water security.
Sema also stressed on the importance of convergence among agriculture and allied departments to address the various biotic and abiotic challenges in the face of the changing climate.
He also emphasised on the soil health and its conservation to achieve better yield while maintaining agriculture sustainability. The ACP also deliberated on the establishment of weather station in every district to combat weather anomalies and to develop climate resilient farming system.
During the technical session, joint director ICAR Nagaland centre, Dr. D.J. Rajkhowa highlighted various research and extension activities of the centre and its ICAR KVKs.
He stressed the importance of water harvesting and its efficient utilization, crop diversification, climate-resilient agriculture and the development of location-specific technologies to shift the agricultural scenario from subsistence to commercial farming.
Director of Agriculture, Ben Yanthan stressed upon the importance of research on high-value low volume crops and suggested for promotion of unique farm produce as Naga farm produce.
Director of Horticulture, Dr. Elithung Lotha emphasised on development of breeding facilities for crops, fisheries and livestock to boost production and productivity.
Director of VS&AH, Dr. Budhi Lama highlighted the importance of artificial insemination in pigs and dissemination of the technology with the help of ICAR Nagaland centre by means of training and capacity building.
Director Soil and Water Conservation, Zhekheto Awomi stressed the importance of soil testing and also informed that soil testing laboratories had been successfully set up in every district of the state. He also emphasized on utilization of digital technologies in agriculture for the promotion of modern farming in the state.
Director, ICAR NRC on Mithun, Dr. M. H. Khan lamented that though Nagaland was the highest meat consuming state still deficient in meat and meat products.
He said various research activities should be emphasised on increasing the production and productivity of livestock so that gap between the demand and supply can be narrowed down.
He also encouraged the farmers to adopt various technologies developed by ICAR NRC Mithun on the promotion of Mithun farming.
Dean, College of V&AHS CAU Jalukie, Dr. Arun Sangwan apprised that more entrepreneurs should be encouraged to venture into livestock production to alleviate meat deficiency in the state.
Pro VC NU-SASRD, professor Alemienla Ao suggested that research on wild edible fruits and vegetables, their nutritional characterization and domestication and standardisation of cultivation practices should be carried out so that these underutilised crops can be successfully commercialised.
The release further informed that around 60 dignitaries from various line departments, KVKs from all the districts, NABARD, NU SASRD, SAMETI, Scientist of NRC Mithun and 48 progressive farmers representing all the districts attended the day long programme.