APC alerts Agri & allied depts on drought-like situation

April 29, 2021 59 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 29

Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema has sounded an alert to all the Agri & allied departments in the State to rededicate towards sincerely working for the welfare of the farmers amidst surging COVID-19 cases in the State.

The APC stated that Nagaland is facing a ‘drought-like situation’ with reports coming in from across the State. Seeds have not germinated due to shortage of water and shortfall of rain, and the few seeds that have germinated have failed to survive, he shared.

“It is not only Corona which we are facing but reports of non-germination of seeds, sprouts getting perished, standing crops destroyed by hailstone, attack by fall army worm, insufficient or no rainfall etc in different parts of the State is threatening us with drought-like situation. In such a situation, we cannot stay idle but must work out new strategies for our farmers,” Kikheto told a meeting of administrative heads and heads of departments of all the Agri & allied at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima on April 28.

He said people were laid back at normal times and during such extraordinary times; one should be more vigorous by waking up to the reality with extraordinary efforts.

Calling for preparedness, the APC encouraged maximum re-sowing of seeds where germination was not taking place and standing crops have perished. He said if funding was an issue faced by some departments they should go for re-appropriation of funds since it is an extraordinary situation and urged them to procure seeds for sowing as early as possible.

Kikheto also urged government employees and members of the public, to take up kitchen garden or terrace gardening since the world is faced with an emergency-like situation.

He called upon the departments to immediately take steps to contain the fall army worm attacks but to avoid using pesticides. “You have studied about plants and its diseases. So now is the right time to utilize what you have studied and learned to benefit the farmers in our State,” he said.

Pointing out that the African Swine Flu cases have been confirmed, Kikheto said that the departments may also encourage alternative activities like poultry, goatery to supplement the meat needs. He said goatery was a viable option throughout the state.

He also encouraged releasing of fish fingerlings into streams and rivers besides fisheries even at individual capacities other than the government.

Stating that rearing silkworms have high output with low investment and high nutritional value, Kikheto encouraged taking up ericulture activities.

Further, the APC called upon every citizen to plant trees and fruit plants for cleaner environment under the initiative and guidance of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

“The world needs oxygen, we need to run for life and so be it at government level or individual level, let us all go for massive plantation this year,” Kikheto said.

Talking about Jal Shakti Abhiyan, of which he is the State nodal officer, Kikheto urged the Agri & allied departments to prepare action plan to harvest and store rain water. “It is not only the departments but even on personal capacities, let us all harvest rain water, create water bodies and create huge water security,” he appealed.

The APC said a team from the Agri & allied departments would visit places hit by drought-like situations and that he would continually monitor the situation in all the districts and urged all the departments to extend their support and cooperation.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/apc-alerts-agri-allied-depts-on-drought-like-situation