Custom Hiring Centre inaugurated in Kiphire to aid farmers

DIMAPUR — To provide farm machinery to farmers and reduce the cost of production, Ihoilung Chuilo, EAC, Sitimi, inaugurated a Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) at Kiyezhe village, Kiphire, on Friday.

Established by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kiphire, ICAR for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, and district administration, Kiphire, the centre was funded by NITI Aayog Aspirational District Special Grants, according to a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Chuilo appreciated the effort of the KVK in mechanising the farming in the area and encouraged the farmers of the area to make the best use of the centre.

He remarked that agriculture is interwoven in the tradition and culture of Naga society and added that it is time to move from traditional practices to modern form of agriculture. He commented that the modern form is highly remunerative and that the centre will play a pivotal role in meeting the requirements.

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Highlighting the project, Dr. N Khumdemo Ezung, senior scientist and head, KVK Kiphire, said that the centre was set up since it is not possible to provide farm machinery to every farmer. He mentioned that the centre will provide the required machines for cultivation, which will reduce the cost of production and eventually increase the income of the farmers.

He further informed the farmers that a soybean cultivation project and an oil expeller project are being implemented in the area and encouraged them to take up toria cultivation on a large scale since they have a market to sell their produce. He also encouraged them to produce seeds at their own level so that they could plan well ahead for cultivation.

He stated that a contract agreement between Orchid FPO and toria cultivators will be signed very soon in order to provide farmers with market insurance.

Mentioning that the centre will initially have two 9-hp power tillers, five paddy harvesters, three paddle operated threshers, and a 15 knapsack sprayer, which will be managed by Orchid FPO for providing the machines on a hiring basis, he said that more machines will be added depending on the demand of the farmers.

Training and demonstrations were also conducted on the operation and maintenance of the machines by Setsiba Sangtam, AFA, and the storekeeper, DAO office, Kiphire.