IMPHAL, January 21: The technical workshop on Location Specific Advances in Rice Production Technology for North East Hill region was held under the sponsorship of the Directorate of Rice Development of Department of Agricultre and co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture and Central of Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal.
Additional commissioner (Crops) Deptt. Of agriculture and Co- Operation, MOA, Govt of India, Dr. D.P. Malik, Director of extension education, CAU, Imphal, Dr M Premjit Singh, Dean, College of Agricultre, CAU, Imphal Dr N Iboton singh and Dr M Rohini Kumar singh, Director of Research, CAU, Imphal graced the function as chief Guest, President, and Guest of Honours.
DP Malik, Additional commissioner (Crops) Department of agriculture and Co- Operation said that the scheme to increase rice production has been implemented in 210 districts under National food Security Mission (NFSM) for wheat in 168 districs and pulses in 468 districts.He continued that the workshop was held as CAU proposed in view of the many problems in cultivation being faced in the North eastern region. He informed the gathering that the government of India has taken up various schemes to increase production including IPM ( Integrated Pest Management) and INM (Integrated Nutritional Management). Saying that machineries at subsidised rate have been provided to the farmers, he further said that the agro-climatic condition of the north eastern region is rather different.
DP Malik went on to say that the rate of production of rice in North eastern region is 1700 kg per hectare and it means that 40% increase in production is required and 2500 kg per hectare must be produced. “The implementation of various schemes like NRGES led to many problems such as shortage of harvest labourers and expensive cost of labourer if available, he cautioned while adding that agricultural practices would have to look at farm mechanization to solve these problems.