Monsoon preparedness: Agri dept. issues advisory to farmers

The state Department of Agriculture issued an ‘Agriculture Advisory’ for farmers in view of the oncoming monsoon

DIMAPUR — In view of the oncoming monsoon, the state Department of Agriculture issued an ‘Agriculture Advisory’ for farmers.

The department in an update stated that the “changing climate” is a major concern for agricultural productivity and food security.

“It has resulted in higher frequency of natural disasters like droughts, floods, heat wave, hailstorm, etc…Hence, it is important to evolve strategy and contingency plan for sustaining agricultural productivity and livelihood of farming communities,” it stated. 

This, the department said, can be ensured by fully utilising existing scientific knowledge on early warning system, weather-based crop planning, and timely dissemination of agro-advisory.

Agriculture Advisory                                                                                                

•          To be vigilant for real time assessment and monitoring of crop situation, pests’ situation or any natural calamity.

•          To perform scouting on fall armyworm (FAW) in maize and other field crops, surveillance and monitoring of other insect-pests and disease incidence on all crops.

•          For Hill Agriculture, staggered log bunding across the slope to check surface water runoff in case of heavy rainfall.

•          To identify areas where gully formation occurs, pluck it with locally available materials.

•          Timely removal and destruction of pest & disease infested plants.

•          Weeding operation should be carried out on timely interval to check crop-weed competition.

•          Adopt systematic staggered sowing of paddy seeds (two week interval) in nursery beds to cope up with climate unpredictability.

•          Prepare side drains around nursery beds to prevent damages from flash floods and wash off.

•          Early field preparation for WTRC/WRC and apply agro-lime for acidic soils.

•          Adopt direct-seeding of paddy seeds in WRC in case of late monsoon.

•          Adopt line transplanting or SRI in paddy for better moisture and weed management.

•          As far as possible use young paddy seedlings for better plant health and crop yield.

For any query or outbreak of insect pest and diseases, farmers have been informed to report to the nearest Agriculture Stations or ATMA Farmer’s Friend.

Also read: Kohima holds monsoon preparedness meeting