Agri & Allied Dept called to work for food security in Nagaland

Mon, December 15 (MExN): The Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Mon and Agri & Allied Department, Mon at the DC’s Conference Hall, Mon on December 14.

Addressing the house, APC said that COVID pandemic is a blessing in disguise, compelling us to learn many things particularly on ‘food security’. The number of returnees from Mon district was second highest i.e. 13%, highest being Dimapur with 51%. 

He said that now Agri & Allied Department is responsible to give the most of what is expected at the crucial juncture as 75% of the population is rural people who are engaged in Agri & Allied activities. He appealed the house that the mindset of importing meat, fish etc, and dependency of food from outside the state has to change. 

He cited the example to Satami village under Aghunato and Yehemi village under Suhrohoto in Zunheboto district who have resolved and decided not to import rice from any outside sources including the ones distributed by the Food and Civil Supplies from next year and hence, requested to imbibe confidence to other villages to follow suit. 

He appealed all Agri & Allied to come together and not to do different things but do things differently.

He also shared about the Naga Model Agri & Allied Integrated Settled Farming at Boke-Basa where all Agri & Allied will converge to work together forming Food Producers Organization. By next year similar model will be replicated one in each district. 

He said that there is a huge challenge ahead of us for not only the present unemployment but also to provide opportunity to additional COVID returnees. The present population: 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. 

He visited Soil and Water Conservation office, soil testing lab in Mon and appreciated the initiatives of the department even though with a very small budget. Last year Soil Health Cards were introduced. This year the department established one soil testing laboratory in each district. He appealed Agri & Allied department to take advantage of the facilities available and make Soil testing mandatory before taking-up any activity in the field. 

DAO Mon in a press release stated that the meeting concluded with interaction with the Agri & Allied Officers. Later he also visited and integrated farm at Chinglong village under Aboi block and had interaction with farmers there.