IMPHAL, March 23: The people of Manipur and other states of the North Eastern region have been facing the problem of shortage of food and nutrition even after 63 years of independence, and this is due to the constant increasing of population pressure, poverty, land degradation and overall scarcity of land resources to sustain the livelihood of the farming community.
This was said by the Governor of Manipur Gurbhachan Jagat speaking as chief guest on the inaugural function of 4-day North East Agriculture Fair 2009-2010 and National Seminar on “Sustainable Development of the Hill Agriculture in North east hill region” held at Central Agriculture University (CAU), Iroisemba, Imphal organized by the directorate of Extension Education CAU under the sponsorship of Department of Agriculture and Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture Government of India.
Further, the Governor said agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the people of Manipur and North East Region.
Development of agriculture and allied sectors play a crucial role towards overall development of the region, he added.
As agriculture and allied sectors form the backbone of the economy of the people, not only in North East region but also in the entire country, it has been receiving full attention of the Government of India he said.
Since independence our development plan priorities have been given to the provision of adequate facilities to the agricultural sector in the form of better irrigation, quality seeds, adequate fertilizers at affordable prices, easy credit system, price protection through fair procurement price, better marketing arrangement etc.
However due to terrain, North East region, could not develop large farms and hence hindered improvement of the economy of the region and its people, he added.
The Governor said high value crops need to be introduced and grown adding that raising one crop per annum needs to be change to multiple crops with the introduction of at least a crop of vegetable during the Rabi season after the paddy.
Priority should also be given to fruit varieties which can be grown in the different climatic zones, he said.
The Governor held that it is the time for those who are subject experts and in the concerned departments, organizations and institutions to educate and motivate the farmers of this region and provide assistance to them so that they can take up multiple-cropping with the help of new agricultural technologies.
Guest of honour Thangso Baite MP Lok Sabha said that 80 percent of the state population are farmers, and depend on agriculture due to which promotion and extension of agriculture in the state is vital.
Touching on the burning issue of global warming and climate change, the he said experts are also needed to explain to the unaware people of the issue by organizing awareness camp.
He also stress the need for organizing such programme as today adding agriculture and its allied sectors have to ensure Angan Phou (in Manipuri) culture is preserved for at the moment it is almost extinct, especially in the hill areas.
Guest of Honour, Thokchom Meinya MP Lok Sabha also said that the Manipur “Chahao” (aromatic rice) both white and black are becoming extinct gradually.
He maintained that if the state can produce these variety of rice abundantly, they can be exported to others state and bring in revenue.
Dignitaries from different state, scientist and scholars also attended the function.
Stalls from different department were opened during the fair including by Krishi Vidgyan Kendra, Aizal, Imphal Parishat and College of the horticulture and forestry CAU Pasigat Arunachal Pradesh, Collge of the Home Science Dakopge Tura, College of Fisheries CAU, Lembucherra, West Tripura, College of Post Graduate CAU, Umian Barapani Meghalaya, East India Machine Co. Mantripukhri, College of Agriculture a Post Graduate Ranipool, East Sikkim and from Manipur were participated by displaying the new technologies methods of cropping, mechanical cropping, new varieties of crops, flowers etc.