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Dimapur, May 16 (EMN): A total of 522.45 hectares of agricultural land was damaged in different parts of the state due to the torrential rains, thunder squalls and hailstorms in the past few, weeks causing huge loss to the farmers.
Following the natural calamity, an assessment on the scale of damage in terms of the area and types of field crops affected were surveyed by the field officers and functionaries in their respective districts and sub-divisions, a DIPR report stated on Saturday.
As per the report, affected crops included maize, kholar, potato, cucumber, water melon, jobs tear, cabbage, carrots, beans and paddy etc. The magnitude of affected areas was 212.5 hectare in Zunheboto, 182 hectare in Kiphire, 59 hectare in Tuensang, 20 hectare in Kohima, 18.5 hectare in Longleng, 12.45 hectare in Dimapur, 9.6 hectare in Mokokchung, 8 hectare in Phek, 0.4 hectare in Peren.
Director of Agriculture, M Ben Yanthan informed that the names of the affected farmers has been collected by the respective DAOs and SDAOs even in the face the state-wide lockdown measures and travel restrictions for onward submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI, Kolkata division.
Consequent upon receiving reports on damage caused to the crops due unprecedented weather condition and infestation of the Fall Army Worm (FAW), department of Agriculture has decided to undertake tour to all districts in the month of May. The tour has been necessitated to address the problems faced by the farmers in the state.
According to the director of Agriculture, M Ben Yanthan, the department would tour the districts during May itself to get a firsthand knowledge by interacting with the district and sub divisional officers; functionaries and farmers friend. The team would also make visit to the field to ascertain the damage.
Accordingly, the team led by joint director of Agriculture as team leader and deputy director of Agriculture would move out to the districts after ascertaining suitable dates.
The purpose of the visit is to mobilise the extension personnel and motivate the farmers to cultivate all the potential areas under paddy and to extend farm areas into alternate farming systems for doubling income. Further, the team would encourage farmers to increase seed replacement rate by growing suitable high yielding variety seeds.
It may be mention that the department of Agriculture has been actively monitoring on various agricultural activities during the three phases of lockdown to ensure that the farming operations are not hampered. The tour has been necessitated following the recent damage caused to the crops due to heavy rains, thunder squall and hailstorms as well as reoccurrences of FAW.
The tour is also aimed at creating more awareness on the PM-KISAN regarding fund released to them from PMO to be utilised only for agriculture purposes besides apprising on the agricultural safety measures to be followed during their field activities and mobility, a DIPR report stated.
It further stated that a comprehensive report with need based interventions and further actions would be worked out to support the farming communities for way forward.