Priority on food-grain adequacy need of the hour
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 16, 2022 -

WHETHER it is organic farming of cash crops for exporting or food crop production through application of fertiliser as per the permissible quantity specified by subject experts, the state must strive to extricate itself from the chronic dependence on other states for food-grain.

Potential and prospect of organic farming in the state has been proven with Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) supporting the farmers and periodically exporting their seasonal produces like pineapple, ginger and turmeric since the past few years to some major cities in mainland India and even abroad.

While some hard working officials have been able to justify MOMA's existence as an important institute for increasing production of agricultural and horticultural goods in addition to bringing more farmers to the organic farming platform, the fact remains that overemphasis on export is one of the factors for shortage of these food crops in the local markets and consequently emboldening the unscrupulous traders to hike their prices.

While there is nothing to be remorseful about when farmers engaged in organic cultivation of food or cash crops reap the benefits and enhancing Manipur's profile as producer of toxic chemical-free farm produces, it is equally important to give priority towards increasing the food-grain production to reduce the gap between demand and supply of both agricultural and horticultural crops in sync with the burgeoning population.

Fair success of the various projects launched by MOMA will definitely encourage many other food producers, who have been skeptical of the idea of organic farming owing to fear over marketing.

As the agency has been mainly focusing on organic farming of cash and food crops suitable to soil texture and climatic conditions in the hill districts of the state, there is strong possibility that fruition of its projects would help check deforestation as the farmers would eventually acknowledge that they could earn decent income seasonally without causing much damage to the environment.

However, it would be wishful thinking that the farmers will give up the age-old practice of applying chemical fertilizers to harvest maximum financial gains out of their limited possession of cultivable land in view of the ceaseless demand for food crops.

Thus, chief minister N Biren's appeal to farmers of the state for a gradual shift towards organic food production from chemical fertiliser-based farming for a healthier society during the farmers' meet cum interaction programme held on Wednesday at City Convention Centre will have the desired effect if the government could ensure material, technical and marketing support.

Up to now, organic farming is confined in the hilly regions and few wealthy individuals in the plains foraying into chemical-free food cultivation and poultry farming mainly for personal consumption, and marketing the excess products.

As such, materialisation of the goal for adequacy in food-grain production of both organic and fertiliser-induced agricultural produces will depend on the efficiency and commitment of officials of the departments concerned in implementing policies and programmes of the government for development of the agriculture sector through marketing of the local produces, improving the irrigation networks and extending material and technical support, to name a few.