Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland, Kikheto Sema, Wednesday said that the state was facing a drought-like situation with reports coming in from across the state.
Expressing concern over the contentious dry spell, the APC said that due to shortage of water and shortfall of rain seeds have not germinated. Few seeds that have germinated have also failed to survive, APC said while speaking at the “need base” meeting of all agriculture and allied departments at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima.
According to an official bulletin, the meeting discussed various difficulties and challenges being faced by the state.
APC also stated that reports of hail storm and attack of crops by fall armyworm across the State have affected the crop production. Sema said that livestock farming has also been hit by the African swine fever and the foot and mouth disease.
Asserting that extra ordinary times called for extra ordinary measures, the APC called upon the agri & allied departments to take stock of the situation and take up the challenges faced by the people of the State. He said that immediate action should be taken in affected areas.
APC instructed the agriculture and horticulture departments to assess the damage of seeds and replace them on an urgent basis so the farmers could use the season to replant and grow the crops. He also suggested purchasing seeds from other allotted funds because of the urgency.
Further, APC advised the veterinary department to sensitize the people on alternate livestock farming such as goat farming and poultry.
He said fishery was also another alternative towards sustaining food production in the State.
He urged the fisher department to encourage people to practice rearing fishes. He also urged the sericulture department to create awareness on the importance of silk worm and its importance’.
APC, who is also the nodal officer for Jal Shakti Abhiyan, stressed on water conservation and rainwater harvesting.
He suggested that land resource department, water resources department, PHED should work towards water conservation and water resource management. “We should focus on saving and conserving rainwater with the theme ‘Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls’ covering both urban and rural areas in the State,” APC said. He also called for creating awareness and importance of rainwater harvesting to village councils, churches, NGOs and other organizations.
Pointing out that 70% population of the State living in rural areas were engaged in agriculture, the APC said it was time the qualified officers of the agri & allied departments put their heads together and provide solutions to the farmers.
He said that that agricultural activities cannot be stopped even if there was a pandemic. “We need to be prepared for any eventualities that may arise,” Sema said.
Suggesting four Cs—cooperation, coordination, confidence and contribution–amongst the departments to fight the issues, the APC also appealed to the citizens of the State to maintain a kitchen garden in their own backyards.
Sema also stressed on the need to plant trees across the state. He said Nagaland was a resource-constrained state and cannot contribute towards the County’s economy, but could increase the ecological services and contribute towards creating a healthy ecological environment for the benefit of all. He called upon all departments to plant trees in spaces available within their complex. He also urged schools, NGOs, Churches to plant as many fruit trees as possible for the benefit of all. The meeting was attended by AHoDs and HoDs of agri and allied departments. Discussions, suggestions and action plans were addressed during the meeting.