Nagaland's dependency of food from outside needs to change — APC

Dimapur, Dec. 15 (EMN): Y Kikheto Sema, Agriculture Production Commissioner, stated that the pandemic has been a 'blessing in disguise,' compelling the people to learn many things particularly on ‘food security’.
Sema had a meeting with the deputy commissioner of Mon and Agri and Allied departments Mon at the DC’s conference hall in Mon on December 14, 2020.

Addressing the house, he appreciated the district administration, Health department, Police, frontline workers and everyone involved who were working tirelessly and effectively during the lockdown.

An update stated that the number of returnees from Mon district was the second highest i.e. 13%, highest being Dimapur with 51%.

He said that Agri and allied departments are responsible to 'give the most of what is expected at the crucial juncture as 75% of the population are rural people who are engaged in Agri and allied activities'.

He said that the mindset of importing meat, fish etc, and dependency of food from outside the state has to change. He further said that 'our land is blessed where all kinds of agricultural crops grow.'

He cited an example to Satami village under Aghunato and Yehemi village under Suhrohoto in Zunheboto district who have resolved not to import rice from any outside sources including the ones distributed by the Food and Civil Supplies from next year.

He appealed all to Agri and allied departments to come together and 'not to do different things but do things differently.'

He shared about the Naga Model Agri and Allied Integrated Settled Farming at Boke – Basa where all Agri and Allied departments will converge to work together forming Food Producers Organisation. He said that similar model will be replicated in each district by next year.

He said that the "government servant ratio is 18:1, which is the highest in the country, leaving no provision for additional creation of government service and further there is less scope for setting up big industries etc. The only option is to encourage educated unemployed youth to take up farming and self-employment."

It stated that he visited the Soil and Water Conservation office, soil testing lab in Mon and appreciated the initiatives of the department.

It informed that soil health cards were introduced last year and the department established one soil-testing laboratory in each district this year
He appealed Agri and allied departments to take advantage of the facilities available and make soil testing mandatory before taking-up any activity in the field.