Hi-tech vegetable seedlings distributed to vegetable growers of Dimapur district
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 11
Advisor, Horticulture, Mhathung Yanthan, MLA, today said the traditional way of farming is no longer sustainable and cannot meet the ever growing demand of food and vegetable products.
The advisor said Nagaland and its farmers have to keep pace with technology to reap maximum benefit and cut down import of vegetables.
Addressing the distribution programme of hi-tech vegetable seedlings to vegetable growers of Dimapur district, organized by the State Horticulture Department, at vegetable seedlings production unit (SHN), Green Park, Mhathung said Nagaland is blessed with fertile soil and climate.
He however lamented that due to “laziness”, Nagas are buying vegetables from other states. Besides, most of the local farmers and vegetables growers still practice the traditional farming system which does not give high yields, he said. The advisor underscored the need to treat farming not only as a way of life but as a business and to adopt modern technology and cost-effective strategies for maximum profit.
He said the State Horticulture department would go all the way to facilitate farmers and vegetable growers by imparting them technical trainings and hi-tech farming methods.
Mhathung also informed that soon Nagaland state would come up with policies to adopt organic farming. Secretary, Department of Horticulture, Alan Gonmei, said the beneficiary farmers and vegetable growers should realize the value of the seedlings being distributed to them as the department and government had invested labour and money for their benefit.
He also urged upon the local farmers not to take to vegetable farming as mere pass time but to plant or grow vegetables in a big way in order to capture the local market.
Director, Horticulture, Dr. R Elithung Lotha, in his keynote address said the Department was distributing the first produce of the Hi-tech Vegetable Seedlings Production Unit, earlier inaugurated on January 23, 2018. He said vegetable being most important in daily life the Department had come up with such a unit for better vegetable farming which will benefit both the growers and the consumers.
The director informed that similar units set up at Tuli in Mokokchung District and Chendang in Tuensang District and Kiruphema in Kohima district, would soon become operational.
Lotha further informed that the department would engage some educated unemployed youth to run the Nursery after which the farmers have to buy the seedlings at a nominal rate. President of Farmer Producer Organization Dimapur, C Nyekha, spoke on behalf of the farmer beneficiaries.
