Kohima, September 2 (MTNews): Nagaland Agriculture Minister G Kaito Aye has called upon officers, staff and field workers of the department to address the needs of farmers in the State.
Speaking at the Agriculture Officers’ Co-ordination meeting held today at Capital Convention Centre in Kohima, Kaito asserted that farmers should be encouraged to grow commercial crops which can be produced in the State.
Minister Kaito urged the officers to go to the fields, interact with the settled farmers about their difficulties, motivate and educate them about the new technology of farming. He also called upon them to encourage the farming community to adopt the cluster system of farming and emphasize integrated settled farming so as to promote farmers of the State to have a sustainable life.
The Minister instructed the officers to see that schemes and facilities for the beneficiaries reach them on time and to identify the bogus beneficiaries of PMKSY schemes. He further emphasized on spreading awareness to the farmers to avail the KCC loans which is an interest free loan.
Agriculture Production Commissioner, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS who also spoke as the special guest, said that the Agriculture Department has a huge responsibility to guide the other allied departments since 70% of the state population are engaged in agriculture. He also pointed out that our traditional system of farming based on jhum and shifting cultivation should be pondered upon, since this farming system is not economically viable and ecologically sustainable. He called on the Agri & Allied departments to come together in a cluster for food sustainability which should turn into a business enterprise, and also added that the Department should address the farmers to grow crops as per the demands of the market so that there is sustainability in the farming community. He also called upon all the officers and staff of the department to be present in their respective stations.
The program was chaired by Director Agriculture, M. Ben Yanthan, keynote address was delivered by Additional Director, Agriculture, C. Peter Yanthan and vote of thanks was delivered by Additional Director, Agriculture, B. N. Phom.