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Dimapur, Nov. 7 (EMN): Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Y Kikheto Sema visited Boke-Botsa in Chiephobozou sub-division on Saturday for spot verification of Naga Model Integrated Settled Farming (N-ISF).
A DIPR report informed that Sema was accompanied by HoDs, officers of directorate and district offices from Agriculture, Horticulture, Land Resources, Fisheries, Soil Conservation, Water Resources, Veterinary and project director of GIS.
The principal secretary to the chief minister, KD Vizo was also a part of the entourage.
During an interaction with Botsa village elders and farmers, Sema stated that the purpose of his visit was to help improve existing traditional farming to a sustainable farming.
He said that traditional methods of jhum and terrace cultivation, even though not economically viable or ecologically sustainable, cannot be stopped as it has been practiced since time immemorial.
He stated that looking at the present situation of the world, there could be “food pandemic sooner or later”; hence, the need to prepare for self-sufficiency where integrated settled farming is of utmost importance.
The APC and the team also visited various fields “to get first-hand knowledge” for taking up various initiatives.
Keeping this in mind, the APC said that integrated settled farming should be undertaken in all feasible areas so that various activities under agri and allied departments can be taken up in cluster-approach.
This would encourage educated unemployed youth and retired employees to go back to rural areas to undertake settled farming by utilising the land to its fullest potential for production in a sustainable manner, he said.
‘These clusters will be further formed into Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) for post-harvest value chain to the nearest market. Thus, this Naga model of integrated settled farming will turn into a business model and also pave a way for agro-eco tourism. This will also give avenue for migration of urban people back to the rural for their livelihood,’ Sema said.
He went on to state that integrated settled farming at Boke Botsa would serve as a model and will be replicated in all the districts eventually.
He said that with this system of farming, Nagaland can achieve self-sufficiency and discourage import of rice, vegetables, fish and meat.
The APC further stated that GPS mapping of the area is being taken up by the GIS cell and for which the agri and allied departments will have to prepare action plan for early implementation of Naga model of integrated settled farming starting from Boke Botsa.