Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 5
Lok Sabha member from Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio on Saturday asserted that Nagaland could achieve its ambition of being tagged as an organic state only when the farmers – “those who deal directly with the soil” – are educated on the standard criteria needed to ensure that certain produce is organic.
Speaking as the chief guest at the World Soil Day program observed at the ICAR Research Complex, Jharnapani, Rio told a gathering of farmers that simply because they did not use artificial fertilizers does not mean that their produce would receive official recognition as organic.
“There are many criteria involved. And these scientific criteria must be explained to the farmers to let them know what is required to produce organic foods,” Rio said. While citing the case of Sikkim, which is on the verge of being declared as the organic farming state in the country, Rio said that Nagaland could also emulate it by encouraging villages to adopt organic farming.
But to achieve this, he said, scientists and government machineries must first educate and simplify to the farmers the scientific criteria employed. The farmers must be in sync with the knowledge, including on soil management, employed across the globe, Rio said.
He also shared concern that soil management in the state has been so poor that it has now become a “nearly forgotten resource.” Our failure to take care of the soil and recognize its connection with our food, water, climate, biodiversity and life would spell our downfall in the future, he cautioned.
This very fear has been the central catalyst behind the United Nation’s move to declare December 5 as World Soil Day – with the basic aim to connect people with soil and raise awareness on its importance in human lives, Rio shared.
Guest of honor, and local MLA, Zhaleo Rio, in his brief address appealed the farmers to adopt modern technology from Research Institutes to help them maintain soil health. He also requested the ICAR to impart training to the farmers on soil management and restoration of soil fertility.
On the occasion 250 farmers from four villages in Dimapur district received soil health cards from the chief guest, Neiphiu Rio. Other guests at the program, besides the farmers, include Dr A Mitra, Director of ICAR-NRC-Mithun and Dr Bidyut C Deka, Joint Director.
