IMPHAL, January 4: It is encouraging to know that many educated persons are today engaging in farming which is a good sign of self-employment said Prof N Iboton Singh, former Dean of Central Agricultural University today at the Manipur Press Club.
He was speaking as the chief guest during a seeds distribution function organised by the Nahakpam Foundation for Development. He said farmers should also focus on cultivating crops like tomato, chilly and water melon which is economically productive. The cultivation of this crops require low maintenance and can be grown effortlessly as compare to other cash crops, he said.
He maintained that farmers should feel free to cooperate with each other and also at the same time learn from each other. Farmers have been neglected by the government and its departments, therefore they have to help its other instead of waiting for governmental aid, he added.
In his keynote address, secretary of Nahakpam Foundation, N Shanta said the foundation has been organising festivals, seminars and distributing seeds since the last 3 years for the welfare of the farmers.
He also said that the main motive of the organisation is to encourage farmers to grow more water melons so that the people of the State need not buy from other States.
Shanta also said that farmers have been approaching the Foundation regarding the availability of seeds and marketing feasibility of the crops. This is because the department concerned of the State government has not been helping the farmers in these aspects, he lamented.
Further, he said that the Horticulture Department should expose the farmers to other States with their product because many farmers are producing their product in huge amount. He informed that the Nahakpam Foundation in collaboration with the CAU is going to organise watermelon festival for the benefit of the farmers.
Meanwhile, watermelon seeds were distributed to 70 farmers including old and new farmers. In the seeds distribution program, Director of ICM, Dr Kh Somorendro Singh and President ACOAM LUP, Kangleipak attended the function as president and guest of honor respectively.