Tuensang, August 14 (MExN): Krishi Vigyan Kendra in partnership with Eleutheros Christian Society launched the campaign on ‘Plant Trees with Jhum’ on August 9. It was stated in a press release that the programme was flagged off by Dr. Keviletsu Khate, Senior Scientist & Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Chongshen Soted, Assistant Director, Eleutheros Christian Society, in the presence of Agricultural Service Providers (ASPs), Extension Field Functionaries of ECS and KVK staffs.
The objective of the campaign is to encourage plantation of trees with Jhum in order to regenerate and revive the degrading soil and to prolong Jhum cycle owing to decreasing trend of available Jhum land over the years.
Tokiho Achumi, Assistant Chief Technical Officer, KVK, in his thematic presentation elaborated that extensive deforestation in Jhum has resulted in deterioration of soil and soil productivity. He stated that it was commonly believed that Jhum was a sustainable system in the past when fallow periods were long. However, given the burgeoning population of the rural mass, more pressure on land has rendered less cultivable land resources as well as land productivity.
Another evident effect of Jhum practices on the productivity of land in Tuensang is the intangible gradual conversion of cultivable land into near wasteland despite long Jhum cycle due to extensive deforestation and negligible growth of beneficial vegetation to regenerate the soil.
He emphasized that amongst the many available trees, Alder is fast growing and the humus generated by Alder can help soil to regenerate for sustainable Jhum cultivation. This can help revive Jhum cycle and can open avenues to develop forest cover in the district. Concluding the thematic presentation, he stated the sub-slogan of the campaign, “It is time we give back to nature for all that it provides.”
The initiative partners encouraged the ASPs to mobilize farm families in their respective villages to initiate Alder plantation starting from next year. They also call for the Agri. and Allied departments to venture together into the development and make the enterprise a successful one for the benefit of farmers and to maintain a clean and balance ecology. The programme ended with distribution of Alder sapling to the 40 participating ASPs from Noksen, Noklak and Sangsangnyu block of the district as ‘a step’ towards greater vision.
