Mokokchung, September 11 (MExN): In a significant development for the district of Mokokchung, the administrative building of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Mokokchung, was inaugurated on September 7 by Dr. K D Kokate, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension) at ICAR, New Delhi. The function was chaired by Dr. Supong Keitzar, Director of Agriculture, Nagaland.
This district level institute, also known as Farm Science Centre, has been catering to the needs of farmers, extension functionaries and rural youth in assessment, refinement, demonstration and training in all the agri and allied activities. The newly inaugurated building has, in addition to the staff rooms, a conference hall, a library and a computer centre, informed Ruyso Nakro, Subject Matter Specialist (Agri. Ext) at KVK Mokokchung, in a press release.
Dr. V Venkatasubramanian, Assistant Director General (Agriculture Extension) at ICAR, New Delhi, in his address, expressed appreciation to the Director of Agriculture and officials for bringing the Kendra (KVK) up to the desired level with the right technology and right implementation within a short period of time through their initiative and effort. He also expressed appreciation to the Agriculture Director for bringing out the KVK Vision 2020. He further pointed out the importance of documenting the locally economical crops like off-season cucumber and ‘kolar’ in order to protect the farmers and encourage their rights to property.
Also speaking during the function, Nungsangmenla, SDO(Civil) Mokokchung, acknowledged the ICAR for granting the SARS Station and KVK at Yisemyong in Mokokchung district. Encouraging the KVK officials and staff to render their services for the welfare of the farmers, she advised them to take advantage of the facilities and infrastructure provided. The website of KVK Mokokchung (www.kvkmokokchung.org) and a KVK newsletter were also launched and released by the chief guest, Dr. Kokate, Deputy Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, during the inaugural function. Addressing the members present, Dr. Kokate mentioned Director of Agriculture Dr. Supong Keitzar and Dr. V. Venkatasubramanian, appreciating their roles and efforts taken to bring up the KVK to the present stage.
KVK Mokokchung has the potentiality of being one of the best KVK in the country having a large area of farm land, Dr. Kokate said. Challenging the officials to be more active and helpful to the farmers as the state was facing a drought like situation, he asked the KVK to be well-equipped and develop a location specific weather agro advisory capsule for its utilisation by farmers and other stakeholders in the district based on the agricultural management plan.
The topography of the state is challenging in which all agricultural crops can be grown with soil conservation planning and rainwater harvesting on the hillocks and proper drainage during heavy rainfall, and this, Dr. Kokate said, can be achieved through community participation.
The ICAR Dy. DG also pointed out the large scope of growing forestry and horticulture crops in the state which can give more economic returns in terms of unit area and asked the KVK to find out the strengths of the districts and the state and identify potential crops that can improve the economic status of the farmers. All the KVKs have to work hard keeping in view the food security, and to feed the nation, Dr. Kokate urged. “The main focus is to increase the productivity of the crop and to reduce drudgery”, he added.
The chief guest also encouraged the Kendra to publish popular articles of the district in the ICAR Journal or magazine covering farming system practices and also expressed a wish to see a Naga farmer as one of the national awardees in Agriculture. The KVKs have very important role to play in overall development and economic upliftment of the farming community in the state, he reminded.
The inaugural function was also attended by several officials from the directorate of Agriculture led by its Director, Y Ovung, Additional Director of Agriculture, EAC Chuchuyimlang, all heads of agri & allied departments from Mokokchung district, mediapersons, SARS, representatives from KVK Mon, Tuensang and Kohima, Village Council members from Sungratsü, Longkhüm and Mongsenyimti villages, Adhoc Town Committee members and public leaders.
