IMPHAL, Jan 18: Dr. L. Palandro Singh, Director, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Manipur has inaugurated a 15 days trainer’s training programme on “Integrated Watershed Management Approach for Livelihood Improvement” under SWPAL at ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Imphal.
The inaugural function of the training programme was attended by Dr. N. Prakash, Joint Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Imphal as President of the function. Critical inputs like rain gauge and silphaulin sheets for Jalkund making were distributed by chief guest and president of the function to farmers from seven different districts of the state.
Altogether 25 officers from the department of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation and KVKs would be trained during this training. About 50 topics related to watershed management and rain water harvesting would also be covered by experts from ICAR Manipur, ICAR Meghalaya, CAU Imphal and KVKs during the programme.
Dr. I. Meghachandra Singh, Senior Scientist, ICAR Manipur Centre delivered the keynote address where he emphasized on the importance of Agromet Advisory Service under IEAAS for the farmers and rain water harvesting structures like Jalkund which can be taken by the farmers for agricultural production. Beside that he also spoke about the importance of Raingauge, which can even be used in farmer’s level for more accuracy in weather forecasting.
L. Palandro Singh, Director, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Manipur spoke about the importance of watershed management and their relation between flora, fauna and natural resources. He also spoke about conservation of water by using locally available materials like straw and other agricultural residues.
Dr. N. Prakash, Joint Director, Manipur Centre said that there is sufficient rainfall in Manipur, but due to the lack of water harvesting structures, still there is problem of water for agriculture during dormant period. He also emphasized on low cost water harvesting structure like Jalkund for life saving irrigation during dormant period in the inaugural session of the traning programme today.
