Chizokho Vero
Kohima | February 13
Days are not far for the farming community of Nagaland to taste the package of the “Year of Farmers.” The agri and allied sector has already drawn up several action plans. The launching ceremony including Agri Expo involving all North east states is likely to take place sometime this month.
The Agriculture department is all set to conduct training programme on Kharif crops, farmers exchange programme, district conference, training programme on various agricultural machineries, tool, equipment, skill development, procurement of machines, orientation programme for Rabri crop, farmers’ fair, exhibition and importantly- the rice festival.
The department would also focus of finance and credit linkages, promotion and entrepreneurship, market linkages, etc.
The Fishery department is intending to develop at least one river in each district. It is also preparing to create awareness on importance of indigenous fish through riverine development at Chathe River in Dimapur and Dzu River in Kohima district. Disease awareness campaign, veterinary health camp and vaccination, fertility camp and clean milk production, district farmers conference, exposure trips to farmers, educational exposure trips to neighboring states, backyard livestock and poultry farming will be taken up by the department of veterinary and animal husbandry.
The department would also focus on Rinderpest awareness; odourles pig sty and silaging, exhibition in all districts, etc.
The department of Land Resource Development features workshop for medicinal and aromatic plants, and indigenous fruits, training on cultivation and processing of indigenous fruits and vegetable, besides a host of other activities.
Procurement and distribution of quality planting materials, intensified cultivation for pineapple, setting up of technical support team of pineapples, citrus, mandarin, oranges, passion fruits, banana and vegetables will be undertaken by the department of horticulture.
The department would also introduce new hybrid varieties of pineapples which have longer shelf life, through APEDA sponsorship and a French expert.
The Horticulture department would also encourage sale of local products by restricting imports. It would also focus on agri-link roads, setting up of auction centre, seminar, district conference etc. The department of Soil and Water Conservation would be conducting awareness campaigns.
Irrigation and Flood Control department would focus on implementation of MI projects, training and demonstration on drip and sprinkler, workshop, seminar, photo exhibition, commissioning of MI projects in each district
The Forest, Environment and Wild Life department would touch on creation of forest plantation involving farmers in the villages on the degraded areas and jhum areas, workshop, seminar, exposure trip, celebration of wild life week, maintenance of forest plantations, observance of World Environment day, etc.
Sericulture department would mark the year long programme with Agri fair in all district, sowing of castor seeds, tapioca cuttings, transplantation of Kesseru/Payam seedlings, state level exhibition, rearers training, spinner weavers training, marketing, study tour, exposure trip, audio visual, rearing of silk worm, cocoon harvesting etc.
The Co-operation department would focus on district level workshops, seminar on role of co-operation on agri and allied sector, awareness training on farmers on various centrally sponsored schemes, identification of good working co-operative society, and celebration of co-operative week throughout the state.
