Dimapur, November 24 (DIPR): As part of their field visit, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) delegates of the ‘Roundtable on Sustainable Management of Jhum in North East India’ visited Molvom pineapple farm on November 22. In the farm, the Horticulture department treated the visiting delegates with Nagaland pineapples, considered as one of the best in the country. The delegates also interacted with the pineapple growers.
The last leg of their field visit culminated at ICAR, NEC Mithun Jharnapani. Director NRC on Mithun, Abijit Mitra explained to them about the advantages of rearing Mithun. The delegates were also shown Mithun ploughing the fields where the Director said that this is the first time in the world where this activity is presently under experiment on trial basis. The delegates were also offered to drink Mithun milk.
Sharing about their field visits to DPRO Dimapur, Dr Augustine Jun Mercado from International Council for Research in Agro Forestry, Philippines, mentioned about the Alder based Jhum farming in Khonoma and said he was excited to see the Alder plantation system going on for so many years. He opined that more improvement could be applied with the right components, right trees and crops for better interaction. In Agro Forestry there is interaction between trees and crops, he said. Dr Augustine suggested integrated cropping system saying it has more economic and environmental benefits.
Forest Engineer & NRM specialist, Vienna and Consultant of United Nations Development Programme, Dr. Andras Darabant also speaking to the IPR officer, expressed his fascination to see the indigenous system of Alder plantation where farmers over the centuries have been practicing their time tested traditional knowledge.
“They do not know about soil chemistry, plant nutrition, nitrogen fixation, but because of their local experience and knowledge put together, they have developed a very interesting system,” Dr. Andras expressed. He also suggested for improvements through consultations and also based on farmers choice.
Officials from Agri and allied sectors accompanied the delegates during the whole day field visit covering Khonoma, Molvom and Mithun Research Center Jharnapani.
