Benjongliba suggests measures to attain food self-sufficiency

Dimapur, October 27: Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Benjongliba Aier suggested forging partnership between the farmers, State government, Agriculture College and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) in building a strong base for agricultural development in order to attain self sufficiency and to uplift the economy through sustainable agriculture.
Addressing the farmers and scientists at the Field Day cum Farmer- Scientist Interaction at ICAR Research Complex, Medziphema, on October 27, Dr. Bengjongliba Aier urged the former to cooperate, collaborate and support each other in order to progress. Stressing on the urgency to start building partnerships based on mutual respect and trust, Aier urged them to inculcate patience and give time, effort and interest in building a strong base for agricultural development in order to attain self sufficiency and economy upliftment through sustainable agriculture.
The way forward is to learn from each other and to be committed and dedicated towards our goal of sustainable agriculture.He said the shift from subsistence and marginal farming to enterprise farming can occur only when the State government, research and financial institutions enter into collaborative partnership for investing in creation of appropriate technology and in transferring that technologies to the farmers in the field, creating effective marketing and food supply chain, developing suitable infrastructures along with the proper facilities for exporting of the produces.
“In this modern era of agriculture, let us stop treating agriculture as a developmental project and stop implementing isolated projects. Instead, let us now start treating agriculture as a business,” Aier exhorted.
He said today we need sustainable, high-tech and high productivity agriculture which will be remunerative and help us in providing both food and energy security. In order to achieve sustainable agriculture, he said precision agriculture with inputs like water, fertilisers and plant protection measures, drip and sprinkler irrigations, mulching, greenhouse technology, etc., can help in bringing higher productivity and achieve food and energy security in the near future.
While emphasising on the greater role of agricultural extension and training so that farmers especially in remote areas are reached effectively, he however, reminded that scientific technologies, which are easy to understand and implement, must be locally appropriate and applicable.
To the farmers, he said persistence in the traditional practices will not be remunerative. While acknowledging that scientific technologies may be hard to implement initially, he however said closing ones mind to the new ways of thinking can result in losing the opportunities to become more productive.
Advising to hold such programme for the development of agriculture on a regular feature to enhance production and to encourage the efforts of the farmers, Aier was optimistic that this kind of programme will definitely go a long way in creating awareness in the minds of the people about the importance and value of the agriculture development in the State.
Rongseninla, Director of Department of Agriculture; Kevisa Kense, Director of Department of Fisheries; Dr. Lallan Ram, Director of Central Institute of Horticulture; Professor RC Gupta, Dean, NU-SASRD: Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Director of NRC on Mithun, other dignitaries and farmers attended the programme.
Dr. DJ Rajkhowa, Joint Director, ICAR RC for NEH region, welcome the dignitaries and mentioned the importance of the agriculture for the state of Nagaland while highlighting the role and contribution of ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, for the development of agriculture and allied sectors in Nagaland.
Professor RC Gupta expressed that it is a time to work toward evergreen revolution which should encompass all aspect of agriculture and allied sectors.
Rongseninla mentioned that the departments are working for the improvement of farmers and highlighted the challenges for farmers in the changing climate scenario. She also stressed that convergence of different departments should continue in every aspect with the farmers of the state.
Dr. Kevisa Kense mentioned that funds for fisheries developments are diverted towards other purposes by the farmers and expressed that farmers should implement different technologies available to enhance the production of fish and profit.
Dr Lallan Ram stressed on the importance of technical knowledge to enhance the profit in agriculture practices and urged the rural youth to come forward to enhance their knowledge through training.
Dr Abhijit Mitra, mentioned the importance of Mitun in Nagaland and expressed the potential of Mitun rearing.
The event was attended by more than 150 farmers across the State and various critical farm inputs including saplings, agricultural farm implements, soil health cards, seeds and poultry chicks were distributed to the farmers.
The inaugural session was followed by the Farmer-Scientist Interaction where several problems of farmers were addressed by experts from different fields of agriculture and allied sectors.
During the event, Dr. Benjongliba Aier also inaugurated an exhibition where several organisations showcased their technologies and products to the farmers.