Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio speaking during the distribution of tractors and power tillers under CM corpus fund at DDSC Stadium on May 23. Tractors are displayed in the foreground. (Sorei Mahong Photo)
Dimapur, May 23 (MExN): The Nagaland government is resting all hopes on farmers to achieve its ‘Vision 2010’ goal. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio along with Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Chumben Murry and Minister for Planning and Coordination, TR Zeliang today appealed to all farmers in the State to work sincerely to achieve self-sufficiency in food grain production, which is the objective of ‘Vision 2020.’
Speaking at a farming machinery distribution programme in Dimapur today, Rio said that the State can achieve ‘Vision 2020’ only if farmers are sincere. He said that famers must campaign towards self sufficiency and make Nagaland a prosperous State. Rio, who gave away 33 tractors and 32 power tillers under the CM Corpus Fund to beneficiaries, urged them to utilise government provided assistance judiciously. He reminded them that the government is providing assistance to farmers so that they can help the State attain food security. He further urged farmers to take their profession seriously.
The Chief Minister said that states like Haryana and Punjab which has got 2 percent of land under wheat cultivation, but produces around 20 percent of the country’s total, and opined that the state which has also got land, manpower could produce more when the farmers take the responsibilities.
Rio suggested that the farmers’ need to go for double cropping to increase agriculture production and further said that the government’s declaration of “Years of Youth, Farmers, Empowerment, capacity building and Entrepreneurship”, are some of the activities adopted by the government directly telling the people of Nagaland to work hard for self sufficiency.
Stating that the state government is encouraging the state progressive farmers for extensive used of machineries for effective production, whereby Agriculture and Allied department provides training on technical know-how and machineries tools to the farmers to achieve state vision “Food sufficiency by 2020” Rio urged the farmers to use the farm machineries judiciously and further said that “Don’t eat the seeds, but eat the fruits”,
Similarly, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Murry said that faming is now an industry and Naga farmers must find ways to increase production. He lamented that although 80% of the population of the State is engaged in farming, it is able to produce only 20% of food grains. He said that the land holding system in Nagaland has been a big hindrance for mass production. He, therefore, advocated for consortium of farmers to produce same crops so that they can meet the demands of the market.
Minister for Planning and Co-ordination, TR Zeliang also emphasized on the need to adopt scientific farming methods. He said unless Naga farmers adopt this system of farming, it will be difficult for the government to achieve its goals. While delivering the welcome address, Zeliang said that altogether the state has distributed four hundred (400) Tractors and Power Tillers to the progressive farmers, however, GDP growth rate of the state is very low and is nothing to be proud of.
The CM gave away awards to outstanding farmers. Unlike previous years, the government has decided to retain government registration number for the tractors for a period of one year. This measure has been adopted to curb the sale of the tractors by beneficiaries at market rates; something that has been detected to be happening by the department in the past.
Vote of thanks was proposed by Principal Secretary & Agriculture Production Commissioner, H.K. Khulu. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretaries including R. Khing, Horticulture; Yanthungo Patton, Geology & Mining, Irrigation & Flood Control and Border Affairs; P. Dako Phom, Transport & Communication, Mechanical Engineering; S.Heno, Fisheries, Relief & Rehabilitation, Printing and Stationery; T.Torechu CAWD and Azheto Zhimomi Advisor Sericulture and Cooperation; Kejong Chang Advisor Village Guards Organization DB’s &GB’s Affairs and Ralanthung Yanthan Deputy Speaker.
(With inputs from DIPR)
Speaking at a farming machinery distribution programme in Dimapur today, Rio said that the State can achieve ‘Vision 2020’ only if farmers are sincere. He said that famers must campaign towards self sufficiency and make Nagaland a prosperous State. Rio, who gave away 33 tractors and 32 power tillers under the CM Corpus Fund to beneficiaries, urged them to utilise government provided assistance judiciously. He reminded them that the government is providing assistance to farmers so that they can help the State attain food security. He further urged farmers to take their profession seriously.
The Chief Minister said that states like Haryana and Punjab which has got 2 percent of land under wheat cultivation, but produces around 20 percent of the country’s total, and opined that the state which has also got land, manpower could produce more when the farmers take the responsibilities.
Rio suggested that the farmers’ need to go for double cropping to increase agriculture production and further said that the government’s declaration of “Years of Youth, Farmers, Empowerment, capacity building and Entrepreneurship”, are some of the activities adopted by the government directly telling the people of Nagaland to work hard for self sufficiency.
Stating that the state government is encouraging the state progressive farmers for extensive used of machineries for effective production, whereby Agriculture and Allied department provides training on technical know-how and machineries tools to the farmers to achieve state vision “Food sufficiency by 2020” Rio urged the farmers to use the farm machineries judiciously and further said that “Don’t eat the seeds, but eat the fruits”,
Similarly, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Murry said that faming is now an industry and Naga farmers must find ways to increase production. He lamented that although 80% of the population of the State is engaged in farming, it is able to produce only 20% of food grains. He said that the land holding system in Nagaland has been a big hindrance for mass production. He, therefore, advocated for consortium of farmers to produce same crops so that they can meet the demands of the market.
Minister for Planning and Co-ordination, TR Zeliang also emphasized on the need to adopt scientific farming methods. He said unless Naga farmers adopt this system of farming, it will be difficult for the government to achieve its goals. While delivering the welcome address, Zeliang said that altogether the state has distributed four hundred (400) Tractors and Power Tillers to the progressive farmers, however, GDP growth rate of the state is very low and is nothing to be proud of.
The CM gave away awards to outstanding farmers. Unlike previous years, the government has decided to retain government registration number for the tractors for a period of one year. This measure has been adopted to curb the sale of the tractors by beneficiaries at market rates; something that has been detected to be happening by the department in the past.
Vote of thanks was proposed by Principal Secretary & Agriculture Production Commissioner, H.K. Khulu. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretaries including R. Khing, Horticulture; Yanthungo Patton, Geology & Mining, Irrigation & Flood Control and Border Affairs; P. Dako Phom, Transport & Communication, Mechanical Engineering; S.Heno, Fisheries, Relief & Rehabilitation, Printing and Stationery; T.Torechu CAWD and Azheto Zhimomi Advisor Sericulture and Cooperation; Kejong Chang Advisor Village Guards Organization DB’s &GB’s Affairs and Ralanthung Yanthan Deputy Speaker.
(With inputs from DIPR)
