Soil health stressed for sustainable agriculture
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 29 : The Imphal West Agri Expo 2025 was organised at the Mechanised Farm Complex at Lamphel today.
The expo under the theme "Soil health for sustainable agriculture" was jointly organised by Project Officer, Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Agriculture Officer Imphal West under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.
During the expo, a total of 22 farmers were awarded Rs 10,000 each with certificates.
While 11 of them were given Seed money awards, the other half received Food Security Group Award.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Arun Kumar Sinha said the expo exhibits the capacity of the State farmers in producing wide varieties of crops.
He said the Agriculture Department aims to improve farmers' productivity and enhance their economy, and make the State self-reliant on food.
He stressed on the importance of the Department of Agriculture working together with the Departments of Horticulture, Fisheries and Veterinary to enhance farmers' produce and their economy.
While enhancing farm produce, focus must also be given on further processing of the produce for value addition. When farm products are processed and values are added, farmers will be able to earn substantial income, he said.
There will be no future without an improved agriculture sector. One way to improve the agriculture sector and enhance productivity is adoption of multiple cropping, he said.
Multiple cropping is the practice of growing more than one crop on the same land in a single year.
Both farmers and the Agriculture Department must focus on adopting multiple cropping, he said.
Horticulture and Soil Conservation Director, K Debadutta Sharma, who attended the event, also stressed on the need for improving agriculture and its allied sectors for the State to become self-reliant in food.
Manipur has moderate temperature and enjoys proper rainfall. These conditions suit a wide variety of crops and plants, he said.
The Director said what is most important to a farmer is soil health.
All crops and trees grow on soil, as such maintaining soil health is of utmost importance, he said.
He said farmers should cut on the use of chemical fertilizers as much as possible and instead adopt organic fertilizers which would improve soil health.
While efforts are on to educate farmers on maintaining soil health and other services, farmers must also seek knowledge and apply new and improved farming technologies, he added.
There are farmers in Phayeng who are earning a minimum of Rs 7 lakh a season from cultivating Umorok on a Sanggam of field. The Department is ready to assist farmers who are willing, said the Director.
Imphal West District's Additional Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmad urged farmers to adopt scientific technologies in their fields and avail Government schemes.
IMPHAL, Jan 29 : The Imphal West Agri Expo 2025 was organised at the Mechanised Farm Complex at Lamphel today.
The expo under the theme "Soil health for sustainable agriculture" was jointly organised by Project Officer, Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Agriculture Officer Imphal West under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.
During the expo, a total of 22 farmers were awarded Rs 10,000 each with certificates.
While 11 of them were given Seed money awards, the other half received Food Security Group Award.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Arun Kumar Sinha said the expo exhibits the capacity of the State farmers in producing wide varieties of crops.
He said the Agriculture Department aims to improve farmers' productivity and enhance their economy, and make the State self-reliant on food.
He stressed on the importance of the Department of Agriculture working together with the Departments of Horticulture, Fisheries and Veterinary to enhance farmers' produce and their economy.
While enhancing farm produce, focus must also be given on further processing of the produce for value addition. When farm products are processed and values are added, farmers will be able to earn substantial income, he said.
There will be no future without an improved agriculture sector. One way to improve the agriculture sector and enhance productivity is adoption of multiple cropping, he said.
Multiple cropping is the practice of growing more than one crop on the same land in a single year.
Both farmers and the Agriculture Department must focus on adopting multiple cropping, he said.
Horticulture and Soil Conservation Director, K Debadutta Sharma, who attended the event, also stressed on the need for improving agriculture and its allied sectors for the State to become self-reliant in food.
Manipur has moderate temperature and enjoys proper rainfall. These conditions suit a wide variety of crops and plants, he said.
The Director said what is most important to a farmer is soil health.
All crops and trees grow on soil, as such maintaining soil health is of utmost importance, he said.
He said farmers should cut on the use of chemical fertilizers as much as possible and instead adopt organic fertilizers which would improve soil health.
While efforts are on to educate farmers on maintaining soil health and other services, farmers must also seek knowledge and apply new and improved farming technologies, he added.
There are farmers in Phayeng who are earning a minimum of Rs 7 lakh a season from cultivating Umorok on a Sanggam of field. The Department is ready to assist farmers who are willing, said the Director.
Imphal West District's Additional Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmad urged farmers to adopt scientific technologies in their fields and avail Government schemes.