Need for organic farming in Manipur raised

Imphal, Dec. 5 (EMN): Many professionals particularly the scientists, doctors, dietitians, journalists and farmers have expressed the need to take up organic farming in Manipur to protect life and make healthy not only physically but mentally and socially too.

The sentiments of these professionals were shared during a day long media interaction held as part of  the World Soil Day under the aegis of Green Foundation, a Manipur based NGO  at Manipur press club hall in Imphal on Tuesday.

To make their dream a reality, they also wanted the policy makers and other concerned parties to think act accordingly in the interest of the human race.

“Otherwise various forms of disease will continue to affect our health after consuming the food systems which were polluted with chemicals,”says Dr Kh Pramodkumar. ” We need some changes in agriculture practices for a better public health.”

Dr Kh Pramod, a renowned public health advocate and former Project Director of Manipur State AIDS Control Society, was sharing his view while making a presentation on use of chemicals in agricultural foods and modern way of life-a Public health perspective during the interaction programme.

The objective of the day’s interaction programme was to promote and raise awareness of the importance of soil towards agriculture development and food security in order to address the challenges of continued world population growth.

Dr Pramod also informed the gathering that a big public demonstration against the use of Glyphosate (weed killer)was held in an European town ten days ago, after the public realised its ill-effects.

He also added that many diseases including Gastro-intestinal, neurological, carcinogenic, respiratory, reproduction, endocrine effects and DNA changes were also reported after consuming polluted foods.

In the day’s interaction Project Officer K Devdutta Sharma of Manipur Organic Mission Agency spoke on importance of soil and strategies for maintaining soil health-organic way in the context of Manipur while Scientist Dr V Pandey of Regional Centre of Organic Farming in Imphal centre presented a paper on present trend on soil health management.

Nutritionist Dr Ksh Bimolata who also teaches in Ideal Girls College Akampat in Imphal East district also spoke on the relation of soil type, the crops in human health diseases while Editor of Huiyen Lanpao vernacular daily Hemantakumar Ningomba shares his opinion on importance of organic farming and its absence in local newspapers and news channels.

Other experts who shared their experiences in promoting organic farming in the national and international levels include International Agricultural Consultant Hitoshi Yokota from Japan who highlighted the ways of land preparation for soil health improvement.

The main interaction programme in the day’s gathering was moderated by public consultant M Pramotchand. Many journalists representing various media houses attended the interaction programme wherein Secretary General U Himmat of Green Foundation gave the welcome note.

It may be mentioned that December 5 was adopted as World Soil Day by the International Union of Soil Sciences in recognising the importance of work done by Thailand’s King Bhumibhol Adulyadej during the 38th session of the food and agriculture organisation of the United National conference in Rome from June 16-22,2013. Many organisations also organised World Soil Day at various levels across the state on Tuesday.