Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 13
In an extension of Nagaland Government’s ‘Year of Farmers’ (2006 and 2007) with the respective themes “Empowering the Farmers” and “Back to the Land”, the state government today handed over the keys of 34 tractors and 30 power-tillers to progressive farmers.
“Nagas solely depend on agriculture, which is interwoven with our culture and tradition. Agriculture is the Naga way of life but with time we have to improve our farming methods,” said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his address at the programme for distribution of tractors and power-tillers to farmers here at the DDSC Stadium. It was for that reason the state government has come to the ‘rescue’ of the farmers, the chief minister said.
He informed that commencing with the first ‘Year of Farmers,’ the government has distributed a total of 86 tractors and 162 power-tillers to farmers.
Exhorting the beneficiaries to make good use of the tractors and tillers, Rio also advised the farmers not to ‘eat the seeds’ but to sow them and eat their fruits later. Stating that Nagaland has to build its economy through farming since 70 percent of Nagas are engaged in agriculture and allied activities, Rio however said the present scenario in the state leaves much to be desired.
He said this was evident from the fact that trucks which enter Nagaland fully loaded are always ‘empty’ when they leave the state. The chief minister said it is high time for Nagas to work, earn and invest.
Minister for Agriculture Dr. Chumben Murry who also addressed the farmers, said the day was another landmark for the state, especially for farmers and educated unemployed youths. The minister said it is time for Naga farmers to replace the traditional system of agriculture with modern and scientific methods. Expressing apprehension over misuse of the subsidized tractors and tillers, both the chief minister and Agriculture minister cautioned the farmers that the government would keep record of the beneficiaries and take action against those found misusing the machineries, including selling them off. The tractors and power-tillers were distributed under CM corpus fund at a subsidized rate with the government bearing 75% of the cost of the vehicles.
Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir in his welcome address said the Nagas should plan ahead in agriculture so that the phenomenon of depending on migrant laborers was done away with. Later, the chief minister, Agriculture minister and Home minister Imkong Imchen also test-drove the tractors. Representatives from the farmers’ side also spoke at the occasion.
