Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 01 2010:
Celebrating the success of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of cultivation adopted at five different places of Chandel and Thoubal district under Weaker Section Development Council, Khangsim, Harvest Thanksgiving Day was held at Khangsim community hall today.
The celebration was attended by Deputy Director of Agriculture (Planning) G Shamu Kabui, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Soil Chemistry) Ph Rajendro Singh, Deputy Agriculture Officer of Chandel Kh Jugeshwar Singh and secretary of Weaker Section Development Council T Sanganidar as presidium members.
Co-ordinator of All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association K Thoiba Singh was also present at the occasion as special guest.
Speaking at the occasion, G Shamu Kabui informed that the total budgetary amount for five years that the Government allocated to Agriculture Department is just around Rs 10 crores.
With this meagre amount, it is difficult to take up agricultural developmental activities in every part of the State.
Nonetheless, the officials of the Department have been ensuring distribution of adequate seeds among the farmers for development of agriculture activities in all the districts from time to time.
He also assured that the Department would be providing Kino-weeder and marker, etc to the Weaker Section Development Council to help in implementation of SRI method of cultivation more effectively in the coming Kharif season.
Ph Rajendro Singh pointed out that Manipur has been lagging behind other States in terms of food production.
So, instead of keeping the field idle in between two cultivation seasons, farmers should try to cultivate cereals.
DAO Chandel Kh Jugeshwar explained that Chandel district is still underdeveloped in term of agricultural activities.
The district has only 62,000 hectares of arable land.
Out of this, only 32,000 hectares have been brought under agriculture while rest remained idle.
Yet from the coming Khariff season, efforts would be made to cultivate not just rice but also other cereals, he assured.
As part of the celebration, sprayers were presented to three farmers as prizes for largest production of Tampha Phou (a variety of paddy) and RCM-10 through adoption of SHI method under the Council.