Medziphema, April 12 (MExN): The Farmers’ Fair 2016 organised by Farmers’ Cell, SASRD, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus in collaboration with Department of Land Resources, Government of Nagaland was inaugurated by Thepsükuolie Vikhrie, Village Council Chairman of Mezoma, one of Farmers’ cell adopted villages on April 12 with the theme ‘Agricultural Technologies for Economic Upliftment.’
The purpose of the Farmers’ Fair 2016 is to bring together farmers, innovators, scientists, government officials and all stakeholders in agriculture, so that through dialogue and mutual understanding there will be exchange of ideas which will ultimately lead to developing necessary strategies to combat challenges faced in the agriculture sector in Nagaland.
Prof. B K Konwar, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, in his speech as chief guest lamented that the production level was too poor thus making the people dependent on the neighbouring states. This requires serious introspection and better strategies for the farming community.
The Director of Land Resources Department, Mhathung Yanthan was the guest of honour and in his speech said that his department is undertaking many projects and has refined the technologies in rubber plantation and integrated watershed management and is now cautiously working on coffee which is finding good prospects in the international markets.
The exhibition stalls was inaugurated by the chief guest which is the highlight of the programme featuring the SHGs from the adopted villages of Farmers’ Cell, SASRD; progressive farmers and innovators as well as from SASRD Students’ Experiential Learning modules and various academic departments as well as Land resources department.
The programme was chaired by Prof. NS Jamir, Pro Vice Chancellor, SASRD and welcome address delivered by Prof. M. Alemienla Ao, dean, SASRD.
On the first day after the inaugural programme two technical sessions were conducted. In the first session Dr. Moa Walling, Deputy Director, Dept. of Horticulture, GoN, delivered a talk on the topic ‘Technology for Hill Farming on Horticulture crops’ while Prof. Sapu Changkija dwelt on the topic ‘Technology for Hill Farming on Field crops’. In the second technical session Dr. Catherine Rutsa, Assistant Prof. NU, SASRD gave a talk on ‘Economic upliftment through livestock farming’.
On the second day there will be field demonstrations of various technologies which will be followed by Farmers-Innovators-Scientists interaction, after which the valedictory programme will be conducted.
