1
A corn field somewhere in Nagaland. (Morung File Photo)
Kohima, April 27 (MExN): The Agriculture department, Nagaland today stated that the department has been helping farmers deal with the situation arising out of COVID-19 crisis in an emergency mode.
With the pandemic 19 occurring at the onset of Kharif season and ongoing harvesting of the Rabi crops putting the agricultural activities in the field to a grinding halt, the department initiated the process in an emergency mode, it maintained.
Among others, the department undertook a survey to assess the shortfall in seeds and other inputs, the percentage disruption in sowing in the Up-land Jhum and related off-farm constraints in agricultural operations faced by farmers during the lockdown period, it added.
A DIPR report stated that co-ordinating with the district and sub-divisional officers and with the services of Field functionaries and Farmers friend placed at respective villages, the survey was compiled.
85- 100 % seed sowing reported
Except in pockets of Yokumdang in Tuensang (50%) and some farming villages in Meluri subdivision (60%) and Dimapur Sadar (60%), across the state, the targeted area under current Jhum reported 85 to 100 % seed sowing of coarse cereals and paddy crops that will continue staggered sowing till May.
The reasons cited for negligible non-achievement of the target were the non availability of farm labour on account of the lockdown, the department said.
The Agriculture State Advisory during COVID-19 lockdown for farmers and relevant SOPs as general precautionary and safety measures to avoid the field level contagious spread of coronavirus was also circulated using the Agriculture Service Whatsapp to the DAOs and SDAOs for dissemination to the farmers and farm women.
The information specifically mentioned of the Government of India’s directive exempting Agriculture & Allied activities and easing their movement to ensure smooth functioning of agrarian activities from lockdown for awareness to the rural communities too, it added.
Damages to crops
Meanwhile, using the same social forum, crop damage due to heavy rainfall, thunder squalls and hailstorms from April 15 and subsequent days that was weather warned through the IMD was actively monitored by the department.
The district and sub divisional field officers filed in reports of severe impacts and crop area damages the assessment which is still under report, it said.
Preliminary survey by the department indicated Potato, Maize, Job’s tears, Paddy, Kholar and Vegetable crops affected in the districts areas of Kohima, Tuensang, Longleng, Dimapur, Zunheboto, Phek, Kiphire and Mokokchung respectively, it added.
Accordingly, the department informed that post positioning of seeds and inputs to the districts and subdivision are reserved and under transport looking into the need based schedules of various areas.
This is being closely monitored by the respective jurisdiction officer to ensure that the needy farmers are the beneficiaries, it said.
The Department has also worked out an agricultural contingency plan-a crop calendar as a field guide to be utilized in the field areas requiring a contingency plan in consultation with the subject matter specialist of KVKs and ICARs.
Other activities
The department also informed that 197 Agricultural Sprayers and farm gloves were distributed to the Administration and Town committees from the Agriculture Directorate, the district and sub-divisional offices for sanitization of public places and certain identified zones.
In Dimapur, the departments’ Administrative block at Agri-Expo, 4th Mile is being utilized by the District Administration into a 100-bedded ‘temporary relief camp.’ At Aboi, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra office building earmarked to hold an 8-bedded ‘isolation ward,’ it said.
In addition, the 682 Farmers Friend engaged under Extension Reforms Scheme (ATMA) were provided with their contingency fund to meet their expenses towards discharge of duties including incidental expenses, it added.
The funds for the Farmers Friends were made available by e-transfer to the 11 district Project Director, ATMAs to be DBTs to their accounts. The amount of Rs 6000 per Farmers Friends was given as immediate relief during the current lockdown and ensures farm movement, the department said.
Video conferencing
On April 16, the Minister of Agriculture, G Kaito Aye also participated in the video conferencing with Union Minister of Agriculture along with other State Agriculture Ministers on the Agriculture situation in the present COVID-19 lockdown, the department said.
In the conference, he appraised that so far there was no problem of taking up agriculture activities in the state and said that if any issues crop up in later stages, matter would be officially intimated.
Under PM-KISAN, during the lockdown period, all Request For Transfer (RFT) by the Department to the Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was completed to receive Rs 126.78 crore from the programme by the farmers all across the state thereby benefiting 1,90,918 farmers who fulfilled all the prescribed criteria, it added.
Report of recurrence of FAW (Fall Army Worm) in Pughoboto (Ighavito village) in maize crops is further being assessed by field functionaries for percentage and area of damage.
