Agri activities in North East organic by default

Our Correspondent IMPHAL, FEBRUARY 13 North Eastern region’s agricultural system is organic by default as there is less use of pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers, claimed Director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for NE Hill Region, Dr. SV Ngachan. ‘It is with these potentialities that Prime Minister of India has taken a number of initiatives for clean environment, traditional agricultural system/ natural farming, soil and water conservation, secondary agriculture including medicinal and aromatic plant derived products,’ says Director of Dr. SV Ngachan of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for NE Hill Region. Dr. SV Ngachan was delivering a lecture on second green revolution in North East India in front of a number important personalities including former Chief Minister, RK Dorendra, two BJP legislators, and its functionaries, well wishers and family members connection with the 21st death anniversary function of Saheed Shamurailatpam Madhumangal Sharma in Imphal on February 11. Dr. Ngachan informed on the need of seed requirement, thrust in promoting irrigated areas, integrated nutrient management for enhancing soil and crop productivity, amelioration of acid soil, opportunity of bringing large area under pulses/ oilseeds in rice fallows, harnessing the complementaries of crop-livestock-fish-tree interaction, promotion of horticulture and agro-forestry, promotion of systemic rice intensification, focus on shifting cultivation improvement, post harvest management and value addition, mechanization to suit the region, attracting rural youth in agriculture and agripreneurship development are some of the priorities for effecting green revolution in the NE region. Stating that integrated organic farming, traditional farming, natural farming blended with indigenous technologies are few examples to sustain agriculture, he said, Agriculture as a prior thrust area draws a road map on second green revolution of India in North East in Prime Ministers’ programme for development in NE region which was initiated as natural economic zone. Bestowed with six agro-climatic zones, NE which contributes 8 percent of the country’s total geographical area, has the scope for cultivating almost all types of crops even though it produces just 3.2 percent food grains in the country, he added. In his presidential speech, former Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, Prof. H Tombi (Retd), said Saheed Madhumangal’s dream for a green revolution and food security for a sustainable livelihood and Dr. Ngachan’s deliberation on the same subject is quite matching. “I hope the dream of Madhumangal who is a real social reformer will come true in the days to come,” he felt. Madhumangal, an important BJP functionary in Manipur in the eighties, was assassinated on February 11, 1995.