Manipur: VC underscores the need of agro-meteorological advisory services for better agri practices

[caption id="attachment_247143" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] ICAR awareness meeting[/caption] Our Correspondent Imphal, May 3 (EMN): Central Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal Vice Chancellor Dr. M Premjit Singh, on Friday underscored the need of agro-meteorological advisory services in Manipur to maintain and improve the agricultural practices. Providing regular forecast will help in taking up certain precautionary measures in the agricultural fields,” said the vice chancellor. “Time has come to go with likeminded organisations for the better farming activities,” he added. He was addressing the gathering at the farmers’ awareness programme on agro-meteorological advisory services under ‘Gramin krishi mausam seva’ at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Manipur centre, at Lamphelpat. Highlighting the weather report data available at ICAR Manipur centre, the VC  informed that Manipur receives a deficit rainfall during January-April this year comparing to the previous year’s record. Manipur receives an average annual rainfall of around 1,400 mm. But this year in the last four months, he said the state is receiving only about 50 percent of the rainfall. Objecting the idea of converting the fertile agricultural fields into ponds for certain economic advancement, he pointed out that there are chances of creating (food) crisis after some time if “we do so.” Responding to VC’s call, Joint Director I Meghachandra of ICAR of Manipur said that their centre is coordinating most of the KVKs providing available weather datas through mobile phones. He observed that double cropping is easier due to changing climate even though climate variability disturbs. Dr. S Basanta Singh said the pests which are previously found were first spotted in the vegetables in Mizoram in the recent past due to changing climate and rainfall pattern.