Newmai News Network Imphal | April 19 Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh has said that conventional methods of agricultural farming should be replaced by new farming techniques to enhance productivity and agricultural growth. Speaking at the Agricultural Inputs Distribution Function held at College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (CAU) at Iroisemba in Imphal today, the Deputy Chief Minster said, there have been widespread jhuming and terrace cultivation in most of the hill areas of Manipur for the last so many years. Insisting that it has been a big challenge to environment and causing health hazard to human beings, he maintained that it is time to replace such conventional methods of farming by new methods. Joykumar called for a change in approach and efforts in the state especially in the hilly areas to introduce alternative farming methods so that productivity can be increased and environment can also be conserved as well. Lauding the Central Agricultural University’s effort to introduce alternative farming under Tribal Sub Plan-Project to five States of North East, the Deputy Chief Minister appealed the University Authority to cover larger areas, both in hill and valley and to increase coverage of Double Cropping and Cash Crop Cultivation. He further said, CAU can play a big role in the area and concerned departments will also follow the steps. Highlighting the University’s initiative to introduce alternative farming in the North East, Vice Chancellor, and Dr. M. Premjit Singh said, the Project has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Agriculture on an experimental basis and covers 15 CD Blocks in five North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Among the blocks, six blocks of Manipur - Churachandpur, Chandel, Machi, Phungyar, Saikul and Kangpokpi in four districts have been covered. If the people co-operate with the initiative, the project can be sustained for long, thereby enhancing productivity and means of livelihood, he added. Later, the Deputy Chief Minister distributed saplings of various fruits including lemon, orange and grapes to the beneficiaries of hill districts. The project entitled “Enhancing Socio-Economic Status and Livelihood Security of Tribal Farmers of NEH States through Agricultural Interventions’’ has also a component of animal husbandry. Director of Research, CAU, Imphal Dr.C. A. Srinivasamurthy and Dr. J.M. Laishram, Dean, College of Agriculture, CAU were also present at the function.
