17th Agricultural Students’ Association of Nagaland General Conference underway
Medziphema, November 2 (MExN): “In spite of the hilly terrains in most of the State, the farmers are hard working and are receptive to the new technologies provided to them with great interest and thus added an advantage for higher level of production and productivity,” said Dr. N Benjongliba Aier, Parliamentary Secretary of Agriculture.
However, Aier added in his address at the 17th Agricultural Students’ Association of Nagaland (ASAN) General Conference that, “what is lacking in the State, is the infrastructure facilities, communications and marketing networks and lack of awareness of technical knowhow about the importance of various commercial interest.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Conference held under the theme ‘Innovation in Hill Agriculture’ at NU: SASRD Auditorium on November 2, Aier said that the tremendous scope and potentiality for hill agriculture in the state can be one of the alternatives for reviving the economy of the farmers in the State. He added, “Due to classified homogeneous and diverse agro-climatic conditions, if proper attentions are given, the entire State of Nagaland can become the agricultural bowl of the NE region.”
He also said, “Agriculture in Nagaland needs to undergo a radical overhaul, being a hilly state to become more sustainable. This is not just because it is important to take care of the environment by being hilly, but also because sustainability is absolutely necessary for the continuation of the productivity of the agro-ecosystem. Threats to the environmental sustainability of agriculture threaten agriculture itself.”
He added that greater emphasis is need on safeguarding natural resources and agro-ecological practices, as well as on tapping the wide range of traditional knowledge held by local communities and farmers, which can work in partnership with formal science and technology.
The Parliamentary Secretary also highlighted that despite ample increase in production of agricultural crops, the low productivity and profitability in several crops is still a challenge and a matter of concern. “Frequent climate changes and erratic weather pattern have also been compounding the risks of the farmers,” Aier said while adding, “there is also a great concern on the youth leaving the family farming business and moving to the cities.”
Taking into consideration the “concerns and issues,” Aier also suggested initiatives and innovations such as proper policy initiatives for doubling farmer’s income, improving availability of quality planting materials and seeds, hi-tech agriculture intervention, reducing cost of production through soil health management, enhancing nutrients uses efficiency, micro-nutrient management, ‘Per Drop More Crop’ agriculture and promoting fertigation system, ensuring higher price of farm produce and products by formation of SHGs, APMCs, Agriculture Cooperative societies, creating employment opportunities etc.
The chief guest also released the conference magazine and memento. Hoto Yeptho, Director, Department of Land Resources graced the conference as the guest of honour. It was chaired by Prof M Aleminla Ao, Advisor, ASAN. Scale model competition on the theme was also held during the conference, which will conclude on November 3.
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