Dimapur, April 30 (EMN): A state level coordination committee meeting for doubling the farmers’ income by March, 2022 was organised by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre on April 26. The meeting was organised with an objective to develop concrete action plan for doubling farmers’ income.
Prof. M.Premjit Singh , Vice Chancellor, CAU, Imphal and chairman of the meeting in his inaugural speech stressed on scientific farming diversification and intensification of rice fallows, promotion of location specific integrated farming system and organic farming, improving jhum land with agroforestry, post-harvest processing and management, planting materials, development and adoption of rainwater harvesting etc.
He said doubling farmer’s income would not be possible without improving the allied sectors of agriculture like livestock, poultry and fisheries. He also emphasised on improvement of road, electricity and agriculture related infrastructure like market infrastructure, irrigation, cold storage, warehouses, processing units etc.
Dr. S V Ngachan, Director of ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umiam, Meghalaya and convenor of the meeting discussed the ways and means to reach the objective of doubling farmers’ income. He highlighted the promotion of seed production of major crops in a participatory ways and opening of more accredited nurseries unit for production and supply of quality planting materials.
He stated that horticulture, floriculture, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants should be promoted in Cluster based to ease in value addition and marketing. He added that mechanization of agriculture from production to value addition should be emphasized with location specific implements and stressed on custom hiring centre. He also emphasized on mobilizing farmers into groups like SHGs, cooperative societies for better backward and forward linkages of the farmers.
Officials from SASRD, department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, scientists of ICAR and KVK of districts attended the meeting and provided valuable inputs to achieve the objective of doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.
