HENGBUNG, OCTOBER 1: Manipur’s Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) Hengbung is likely to be developed as seed hub-cum-skilled training centres for the farmers along with seven other KVKs in the North Eastern region out of the country’s 100 identified KVKs for the project.
This came to light when this reporter enquired about the numbers of KVKs in the NE region which are actually included in the country’s new project to improve seeds (pulses) production and enhancement of farmers’ skill through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) development programmes on the sideline of a function here at the picturesque village in Manipur’s Senapati district.
The day’s function included inauguration of a food processing unit besides attending a review meeting of the KVKs in the state. There are about 9 KVKs including 5 under ICAR, two with host NGOs, one each under Central Agricultural University and State Agriculture department in Manipur.
The Deputy Director General (Agriculture Extension) Dr AK Singh of the ICAR was the chief guest of the function while Vice Chancellor of Central Agricultural University Prof M Premjit and president Haokholet Kipgen of KVK Hengbung’s host NGO Foundation for Environment and Economic Development Services besides Director Dr Bidyut Deka of ATARI Zone-III ICAR, Barapani attended as guests of honour and functional president.
Speaking on the occasion, DDG ICAR Dr Singh said step has been taken considering the existing trend of seeds and pulses deficit across the country besides enhancing the skills of the farmers.
Stating that diseases, insects and storage are the main problems of the pulses in the country, Dr Singh said, “The government started to invest for better production by adopting about 77000 acres of land for demonstration as the production and requirement of the pulses are not matching in the country.”
He also appealed to the scientists and subject matter specialists of the KVKs to somehow connect with the farmers using different mediums of communication to achieve the government’s target of producing 1 lakh quintals of pulses besides giving skill training to about 15 lakh farmers.
The visiting DDG of ICAR also expressed the need to develop integrated farming system in the NE states considering its land holding systems and KVK should play a key role in making it possible. There are about 78 KVKs in the entire NE region.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Director Dr Bidyut Deka of ATARI Zone-III ICAR, Barapani said that the said program will be implemented across 2.5 lakh hectares of agricultural lands in the NE states as the land holding system of the region with the rest of the country is comparatively low.
Earlier, inaugurating the food processing unit, DDG Dr Singh informed that less than 10 per cent of the fruits and vegetables were sent for processing in the country which is comparatively very low in the global market.
In his speech, Vice Chancellor Prof Premjit expressed the need to enhance the farming system in NE by encouraging ‘integrated farming’ by introducing climate resilient crops and harvesting the rain water.
