DIMAPUR — Director of Agriculture department, Ben Yanthan, on Friday disclosed that the department is working on transforming the landscape management of jhum towards settled and business-oriented enterprise through tailor-made projects and schemes. He was optimistic that the system would bridge the gap between production and downstream activities such as processing and marketing.
Yanthan stated this during the valedictory programme of national seminar on ‘Sustainable emerging approach in Agri-business development,’ organised by the department of Agricultural Economics, at the multipurpose hall of School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema campus.
Yanthan, who was the special guest, stated that although jhum cultivation has come under a lot of negative press, jhum in the region is an extensive and critical part of the large bio-diverse agriculture system linking food sovereignty, ecological sustainability and culture together.
He added that in Nagaland, jhum cultivation is based on indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) adding that stewardship of the environment in many areas is through the establishment of community conserved areas and is a community/family run process, an update from the university stated.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]“Multi cropping in jhum provides security against crop failures, market failure and dependence, nutritional imbalances and soil infertility. The fallow lands also provide mushrooms, herbs, tubers, leafy vegetables etc. to supplement household requirements,” Yanthan said.
Yanthan strongly recommended for the promotion of Agri tourism through direct-to-consumer sales by having farm stands and marketing sheds in the rural areas, agricultural education via school visits to a farm, promoting home/farm stays, recreational and entertainment events like fishing, hay rides and harvest dinners.
He also suggested that research papers from academia should be disseminated widely to entrepreneurs and industry so as to strengthen the commercial agri business sector. He concluded by saying that the recommendations from the seminar could pave the way for greater engagement in agro-industry by government, the private sector and entrepreneurs.
The special guest gave away awards for outstanding paper presentations on various themes and also released a book. The memento and certificates were presented by Prof. Bijendra Singh, secretary of SDRA & SBPUA&T.
The welcome address was delivered by Prof. L Daiho, dean of NU: SAS, and invocation prayer was said by Dr. Sentimenla, assistant professor at NU: SAS. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Khan Chand, associate professor at NU: SAS.