Mantra to develop agriculture; Dr. Aier lists out imperatives

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 2: Development planning in Nagaland since the state’s inception has always revolved around economic development in the form of building infrastructures, roads and bridges and small scale industries. However, local legislator Dr. Benjongliba Aier has observed, little effort has been made to determine how agriculture production, with emphasis on food production, can be increased through advanced input. The Agricultural Students’ Association of Nagaland, an organization of Naga students studying agriculture in the country, conducted their 17th general conference on November 2 at the SASRD, Medziphema campus. The event was conducted with the theme “Innovation in Hill Agriculture”. Dr Benjongliba Aier, parliamentary secretary for Agriculture, was the chief guest of the event. In his address, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Benjongliba Aier said that the state of Nagaland was gifted with unique topography and varied agro-climatic and soil conditions that offer vast resources and scope for development of various agricultural farming. ‘The potentialities of these features in the state are yet to tapped fully due to lack of adequate knowhow of the required agricultural inputs, latest technologies, extension services and investment from the financial institutions,’ the legislator said. ‘In spite of the hilly terrains in most of the state, the farmers are hard working and are quite receptive to the new technologies provided to them with great interest and thus, an added advantage for higher level of production and productivity.’ What are lacking in the state, however, he said, are infrastructure facilities, communications and marketing networks besides the lack of awareness of technical knowledge about the importance of various commercial interest. ‘Planning in Nagaland since the inception of the state has so far been encompassed on economic development mainly through building infrastructures, roads and bridges and a few small scale industries. So far, just a little effort have been made to determine how food production, be it food grains and pulses, fruits and vegetables, livestock and dairy products or fish production that can be increased through higher inputs,’ he said. Nonetheless, the ‘tremendous scope and potentiality’ for hill agriculture in Nagaland can be one of the alternatives to reviving the economy of the farmers in the state, he said. ‘Due to its classified homogeneous and diverse agro-climatic conditions, if proper attentions are given, the entire State of Nagaland can become the agricultural bowl of the NE Region,’ Dr. Aier told the gathering. However, the farmers continue to depend on whatever land they have and stuck to their ancestral occupation, that is, jhum cultivation.’ The politician also claimed that the state’s government had ‘started making concerned efforts’ to “improve the living standard and economic conditions of the farmers.” Today, he said, the economy of Nagaland is based mostly on agriculture and allied sectors. “Thus, the state government is giving more emphasis on integrated development of hill agriculture and its farming system. Agriculture provides a remunerative means of diversification of land use for improving productivity and returns, providing nutritional security, increasing employment opportunities and providing raw materials for establishing agro-processing industries.” Further, the parliamentary secretary admitted as “clearly understood” that agriculture in Nagaland was in need of a radical overhaul due to the state being a hilly region if it was to become more sustainable. ‘This is not just because it is important to take care of the environment by being hilly, but also because sustainability is absolutely necessary for the continuation of the productivity of agro-ecosystem,’ he said. Likewise, Dr. AIer explained, ‘hill agriculture practices’ can also mitigate climate change. “Hill agriculture which is more related with organic agriculture, for example, use of less fossil fuel based inputs and has a better carbon footprint than the standard agricultural practices.” This, he said, was because conventional agriculture production utilises more overall energy than organic systems due to heavy reliance on energy-intensive fertilizers, chemicals, and concentrated feed, which organic farmers forego. “The research and development effort made in agriculture in the last three decades in the country have impacted agriculture in many ways. As a result, the importance of agriculture is being realized at all levels, be it a small or a large farmer, the corporate sector or the policy makers,” the legislator said. He mentioned that there was now a large research and development network in the country with several institutions and a number of flagship development programmes launched by the government of India. “Agriculture has, thus, come out of the village confines to the urban areas and corporate sector as an organised enterprise. Despite ample increase in production of agricultural crops, the low productivity and profitability in several crops is still a challenge and a matter of concern,” he said. ‘Frequent climate changes’ and erratic weather pattern have also been compounding the risks of the farmers, he said. According to the legislator, several initiatives with the objective of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 with emphasis on ‘per drop more crop’ and use of soil health cards for better water and nutrient management have been initiated. “There is also a great concern on the youth leaving the family farming business and moving to the cities. Besides, several states, especially in the NE region, have declared themselves as organic states,” he said. The legislator also suggested a number of actions to take noting the special concerns and issues about Nagaland. Being a hilly state, he said, a number of initiatives and innovations are to be taken ‘into immediate considerations with seriousness for the development of hill agriculture.’ During the event, a magazine and a memento marking the event were released by the chief guest. Also, a scale-model competition based on the theme “Innovation in Hill Agriculture” was conducted. Four groups participated in the event. The conference will conclude on the 3rd of November. A business hour was conducted on the 2nd. Dr. Aier’s suggested ‘initiatives and innovations’ * ‘Proper’ policy initiatives to double farmers' income * Improving availability of quality planting materials and seeds through plug plant production, diagnostics for disease-free planting materials, micro-propagation and quarantine related issues * Hi-tech agriculture Intervention by using F1 hybrids, canopy management, high density planting, proper pollination and flower regulations * Reducing cost of production through soil health management, enhancing nutrient use efficiency, micro-nutrient management, 'per drop more crop' agriculture and promoting ‘fertigation system.’ * Promoting innovative production systems like protected agriculture, hydroponics, vertical farming, etc * Technology-led organic agriculture such as safe food production, organic inputs, use of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, use of green manure and use of vermin-compost and bio-compost * Managing emerging pests and disorders, pest management in field and greenhouses, forecasting pests and physiological disorders of agricultural crops * Reducing post harvest losses through cold chain and retail management, ready-to-use consumer packaging, etc * Ensuring higher price of farm produce and products by formation of self help groups, APMCs, Agriculture Co-operative Societies and contract farming * Creating employment opportunities for unemployed youth by establishing nurseries, apiary and honey production business, agri-tourism, custom hiring of agriculture equipments and contract farming