Nagaland facing ‘unpredictable rainfall pattern’

•    Stakeholders urged to be ‘mentally prepared’
•    Need to discuss and bring out advisories for guiding farming community
•    Importance of weather stations, digital agriculture
•    Department scrutinizing bogus beneficiaries under PM-Kissan

Jharnapani, February 1 (MExN): Nagaland state is facing “unpredictable rainfall pattern” and “there was no rainfall from December 2020 to April 2021.” This was stated by Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS while gracing the inaugural session of stakeholders meeting as the guest of honour at ICAR, Jharnapani on February 1.

Regarding the onset of early monsoon this year, Kikheto expressed the need for such discussion and urged upon the stakeholders to be “mentally prepared.” “Due to the changing climatic pattern, the farmers are also confused so we should come together, discuss and bring out advisories for guiding the farming community,” he maintained.

According to a DIPR report, the APC noted that for a couple of years, the drought like situation faced by the state, Fall Army Worm (FAW) attack and African Swine Flu, besides the COVID-19 pandemic have “seriously affected” the livestock, farmer’s yielding and human lives. 

The APC stressed on the importance of multi cropping along with paddy, stating even if one crop fails one can earn from the yield of other crops. He emphasized on the importance of water conservation and Naga Model integrated farming system, where all Agri and Allied departments can come together in a cluster manner for sustainability.

The APC hoped for the year 2022 to be “a year of prosperity for the farming community.” He urged upon the Agri and Allied departments and ICAR to deliver innovative ideas and called for their continued dedication and commitment towards the farming community.

He informed that with the initiative of Nagaland Government and the Union Government, High Tech Soil Testing Laboratories has been set up in all the 11 districts adding that the State Government would be writing for the same with regard to the newly created districts.

Further, the APC informed that on January 31, he has written to the Secretary & Director General (ICAR) New Delhi for establishment of five Krishi Vigyan Kendras for the new districts of Nagaland. Informing that two bio fertilizers have already been set up, he was optimistic for getting sanction within this financial year for the remaining districts.

Stressing on the importance of weather stations for giving real time advance weather information, the APC informed that weather stations has been set up for all the districts in the KVKs, some of which would be inaugurated next week.

The state APC also mentioned about the State’s initiative on the importance of digital agriculture, where it plans to take real time information by using a drone, to see and initiate action on the FAW attack and required bio-fertilizers to be dropped to respective locations for improved cultivation. Observing that things are moving up in the right direction, he appealed ICAR and Agri Allied departments to come out of the box with innovative ideas and to give back something to the people before their retirement/transfer.

He also stated that the “department was scrutinizing the ineligible/bogus beneficiaries under PM-Kissan who were enjoying in the name of the farmers.”

The meeting was attended by Heads of Agri & Allied departments, district officers, ICAR officials and farmers representatives from all the districts.

Stakeholders, progressive farmers share knowledge 

Jharnapani, February 1 (MExN): During the technical session, Dr DJ Rajkhowa, Joint Director, ICAR Nagaland centre 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. 

Ben Yanthan, Director, Directorate of Agriculture, stressed upon the importance of research on high-value low volume crops and suggested for promotion of unique farm produce as Naga farm produce. 

Dr Elithung Lotha, Director, Directorate of Horticulture, emphasized on development of breeding facilities for crops, fisheries and livestock to boost production and productivity. 

Dr Budhi Lama, Director, Directorate of VS&AH, 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. 

Zhekheto Awomi, Director, Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation, stressed the importance of soil testing and informed that soil testing laboratories had been successfully set up in every district of the state. He emphasized on utilization of digital technologies in agriculture for the promotion of modern farming in the state.

Dr MH Khan, Director, ICAR NRC on Mithun said that Nagaland is the highest meat consuming state but still deficient in meat and meat products. 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. 

Dr Arun Sangwan, Dean, College of V&AHS CAU Jalukie apprised that more entrepreneurs should be encouraged to venture into livestock production to alleviate the meat deficiency in the state.

Prof Alemienla Ao, Pro VC NU-SASRD, 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. 

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 programme. 

Various agricultural tools and implements, vermibeds, threshing sheets, sprayer, poultry, piglets, seeds of Sesame, rice and maize etc were distributed to all the farmers.