ICAR floats a tableau at Republic Day parade in Delhi

Dimapur, Jan. 26 (EMN): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had participated in the Republic Day parade by showcasing Integrated Farming System (IFS) with a slogan ‘Mishrit kheti, Khushiyon ki kheti’ (Mixed farming-a happy farming).

The tableau of ICAR at the Republic Day parade -2018 in New Delhi on January 26 exhibited integrated farming system which was a judicious mix of two or more agri-enterprise system for minimum resource competition and maximum complementary to each other so as to support eco-friendly production, enhance employment, income and enrich family nutrition.

The crop and livestock based farming system is popular in the country as it is being practiced by 86 percent of farmers. Integrated farming system model comprises cropping systems, orchards, dairy, poultry, piggery, and aquaculture, which are selected on the basis of regions, land holdings, availability of labour, and available capital for investment. The system is an ideal means for small and marginal farmers for enhancing; agriculture for quality food, nutrition and climate resilient farming system besides doubling of farm income.

In the front part of the tableau, it showed scientists developing technologies based on farmers’ needs to ensure higher income and to support climate-friendly agriculture. The system advocates organic based cropping system, which is highly appropriate for eastern India. In the central part, the happiness of farmers has been shown. Finally, the farmers’ hard work throughout the year bears fruit in which the farmers were seen expressing happiness through songs and dance at the community level.

Dr. Abhijit Mitra, director of ICAR-NRC on Mithun, stated that exhibiting mithun in the tableau vindicated the importance of mithun husbandry for the doubling the income of the tribal farmers of the region. Mithun is the only livestock species in India which has the distinction of a state animal of two states namely Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, he stated. He added that mithun is primarily reared as a meat animal but it has a potential as a source of milk, hides and animal-power, adding mithun also helps in improving the forest health and known as a ‘nature’s gardener’.

A total of 23 tableaux including fourteen states and union territories and nine central ministries had participated in the Republic Day parade this year.