State should create more water bodies: Kikheto

July 16, 2021 29 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, July 16: Agri & allied deptt discuss drought-mitigation strategies
Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Y Kikheto Sema said that Nagaland should create more water bodies, check dam, rejuvenation of ponds and streams and rain harvesting so that agricultural activities were not hampered due to drought as experienced this year.

According to DIPR report, Kikheto was addressing the core committee meeting of agri and allied department to take stock of drought-like situation in the state, at secretariat conference hall, Kohima on July 15.
Chairing the meeting, the APC said that due to insufficient rain, jhum cultivation has been adversely effected and would gradually affect the terrace cultivation if similar trend continues.

Stating that these were extraordinary times not only because of the pandemic but also because nature was not favoring, Kikheto added that crops failed to germinate in most fields and that even the germinated crops were attacked by the Fall Army Worm (FAW).

Stressing on food securities, he said that much has been said about food securities but less importance was given to water securities.

In this regard, he said that food security and doubling of crops was possible only when water was available. The APC appealed to all the agri & allied department that their schemes and programmes should be implemented properly and timely and any department that fail to implement them would be seriously dealt with.

The decisions taken in the core committee meeting were; all the departments involved in deliverance of projects and schemes related to irrigation and water should make initiatives for creation of water bodies etc., which would help with agricultural activities, distribution of rabi seeds to farmers by September so that the loss borne may be compensated to some extent

Encouraging farmers to rear eri, goats and other livestock to supplement the income and livelihood of the marginal farmers of the state; AHoDs/HoDs to ensure district/sub divisional officers are stationed in their posting place and timely monitoring and supervision of the schemes and programs.
The meeting decided that that the core committee and district officers would make field visit of the drought affected areas to take stock of the ground situation and to plan out necessary required interventions for the affected farmers.

It also decided that a review meeting would be held in the month of September 2021 and the committee proposed for housing all the district officers of Dimapur agri & allied departments at administrative building, Agri Expo, for better coordination and to facilitate farmers under one roof.
During the meeting agriculture, horticulture and AH & Vety services, fisheries and A.R land resource, sericulture, water resources and cooperation, soil & water conservation department displayed PowerPoint presentations and highlighted the extent of damage of various crops across the districts in Nagaland due to erratic rainfall.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/state-should-create-more-water-bodies-kikheto/236457.html