Kohima, January 12 (MExN): A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for Transfer of Technology on Bio Fertilizers and Bio Pesticide and Development of Industry Incubation Systems was signed between the Central Agriculture University (CAU), Imphal and the Soil and Water Conservation (S&WC) Department, Government of Nagaland on January 12.
The MoA was signed in the office chamber of Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, in the presence of K Libanthung Lotha, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Soil and Water Conservation; Nungsangwapang, Additional Secretary, Agriculture; K. ZhekhetoAwomi, Director, Soil and Water Conservation and K Khekiho Shohe, State Nodal Officer for Soil Health Management who were also the MoA’s signatories, a DIPR report informed.
In his introductory remark, the APC informed that in Nagaland, 70% of the population living in the rural areas depend on the agriculture and allied activities, and out of this, 73% are engaged in jhum cultivation and only 27% are engaged in settled farming.
The traditional way of cultivation i.e. jhum is not found to be economically viable and ecologically sustainable; therefore the Government of Nagaland is looking towards sustainable livelihood of our farmers, he maintained.
Kikheto also expressed happiness on behalf of the state government that the union government has sanctioned 2 Bio Fertilizer Production Units (BFPU) and 10 units are under consideration in current financial year.
To this end, the state government is in need of experts for efficient implementation and the MoA is being signed for the same, he said.
The APC also conveyed gratitude to Vice Chancellor and lauded the S&WC department for taking the initiative, he added.
Dr S Basanta Singh, Director of Research, CAU in his address stated that the signing of MoA is a historic moment for both the parties as this was the first agreement signed between the university, and the Government of Nagaland.
Prof Dwipendra Thakuria, CAU-CPGSAS, Umiam who is also the technical expert gave a brief presentation on the (3) three technologies being transferred:
a) CAU Bioenhancer (A microbial consortium for Terrace and Valley Lands)
b) CAU Jhum Bioenhancer (A microbial consortium for mixed crops of Jhum Fields)
c) Um-Met: A Liquid bio-formulation of a potential indigenous entomopathogens Metarhiziumanisopliae
Prof Thakuria also appreciated the state government for taking initiative for setting up of Meteorological Observatories as well as Soil Testing Laboratories in all districts, and also for promotion of organic farming in the state by setting up BFPU in 2 districts and 10 more units under consideration for each districts.
Nagaland would become a model of organic farming for the entire country, he noted, further offering opportunity to train on technical knowhow if required, which the officials of the state government appreciated, the DIPR report noted.
He also mentioned that university has spent a huge amount for development of technologies but as the state government is a non-profit organisation, it agreed to share the technologies in a nominal amount of Rs 1 lakh only per technology, it said.
The university at the same time requested the state government that as the MoA is going to benefit both the parties, if some kind of funding can be provided to the university for creation for facilities such as bio pesticides or bio fertilisers production units for Research and Development programmes if there are any avenues, it added.
It was agreed that the university and the state government would coordinate and cooperate even for other programme in the future for the benefit of the farmers in the state, the report said.
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