Nagaland farmers urged to evolve strategy for sustainable agriculture

May 21, 2023 41 Views No Comment

Agriculture dept issues farmers advisory

DIMAPUR, MAY 21 (MExN):With the onset of rainy season, the Department of Agriculture, Nagaland on Saturday issued afarmersadvisory for monsoon preparedness.

Stating that the changing climate is a major concern for agricultural productivity and food security, Director, Agriculture Department in a press statement said this has resulted in higher frequency of natural disasters like droughts, floods, heat wave, hailstorm etc.

Therefore, it stated that it has become important to evolve strategy and contingency plan for sustaining agricultural productivity and livelihood of farming communities.

This can be ensured by fully utilizing existing scientific knowledge on early warning system, weather-based crop planning and timely dissemination of agro-advisory.

In its advisory, the department has urged the farmers to be vigilant for real time assessment and monitoring of crop situation, pests’ situation or any natural calamity. To perform scouting on Fall Army Worm (FAW) in maize and other field crops, surveillance and monitoring of other insect-pests and disease incidence on all crops.

For hill agriculture, farmers can apply the strategy of staggered log bunding across the slope to check surface water runoff in case of heavy rainfall.To identify areas where gully formation occurs, pluck it with locally available materials and timely removal and destruction of pest & disease infested plants.

Weeding operation should be carried out on timely interval to check crop-weed competition.Adopt systematic staggered sowing of paddy seeds (2 week interval) in nursery beds to cope up with climate unpredictability.

To prepare side drains around nursery beds to prevent damages from flash floods and wash off and early field preparation for WTRC/WRC and apply agro-lime for acidic soils.

Adopt direct-seeding of paddy seeds in WRC in case of late monsoon and line transplanting or SRI in Paddy for better moisture and weed management.

As far as possible, use young paddy seedlings for better plant health and crop yield, the department advised. For any query or outbreak of insect pest and diseases, farmers have been urged to report to the nearest Agriculture Stations or ATMA Farmer’s Friend, it added.