FOCUS-Nagaland and CIP hold meeting in New Delhi

October 10, 2021 30 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR , October 10: Officials of Foster Climate Resilient Farming Systems in the North East –Nagaland (FOCUS-Nagaland) and CIP (International Potato Centre) held a meeting at the office of the CIP, PUSA, New Delhi on October 9.

According to a DIPR report, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) and MD of FOCUS-Nagaland, Y. Kikheto Sema stated that the traditional way of farming was not only economically viable but also ecologically unsustainable.

In this regard, he said that the state government was focusing on development of sustainable farming as business enterprise.

He also stated that unlike in the mainland India, the united states of North East, Nagaland in particular had varied agro-climatic condition having the advantage to produce potato in all three seasons of the year.

This, he said, would benefit the farming community in increasing the production.

Meanwhile, regional director of CIP (Asia), Dr. Somarendu Mohanty highlighted that the primary objective of the project was to establish a potato seed production system in the state to make high quality seeds available to farmers at affordable price in a timely manner.

He disclosed that the combination of lower seed costs and higher yields would make potato cultivation more profitable for small and marginal farmers in the state and expand potato acreage and production.

Dr. Somarendu said that this would be achieved through the introduction and scaling up of decentralised low-cost seed production technologies such as rooted apical cuttings.

He stated that while the project was expected to be funded through FOCUS project, CIP would serve as a technical partner.

The team of CIP is expected to visit the state for further discussion and site visits and signing of MoU with government of Nagaland is expected before the end of the year after the approval of IFAD, DIPR report stated.

The meeting was held to discuss about a project proposal to develop a low-cost potato seed production system for improved livelihoods and food security for resource poor farmers of Nagaland as sub-project within FOCUS project.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/focus-nagaland-and-cip-hold-meeting-in-new-delhi/241982.html