A core committee meeting of Agri and Allied department under the Chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS to take stock of drought in the State was held at the Secretariat conference hall, Kohima on 15 July 2021.
Chairing the coordination meeting, APC Kihketo Sema said these are extraordinary times for us not only because of the pandemic but the fact that nature and climate is not favoring due to very less rain this year. He added that crops fail to germinate in most of the fields and even the germinated crops were attacked by the Fall Army Worm (FAW).
The APC also said that due to insufficient rain jhum cultivation has been adversely effected and gradually it will affect the terrace cultivation also if similar trend continues. He also expressed that the state should create more water bodies, check dam, rejuvenation of ponds and streams and rain harvesting so that agricultural activities are not hampered due to drought as experienced this year. Also stressing on food securities he said that much has been said about food securities but less importance given to water securities. He therefore said that food security and doubling of crops is possible only when there is availability of water. Sema 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 will be seriously dealt with.
After thorough discussion among the members, 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 will help in agricultural activities, distribution of Rabi seeds to the farmers by September, so that the loss borne by them may be compensated to some extent, encouraging rearing of eri, goats and other livestock to supplement the income and livelihood of the marginal farmers of the State, all the AHoDs/HoDs shall ensure that the District/Sub Divisional Officers are stationed in their posting place and timely monitoring and supervision of the schemes and programs, the Core Committee and District officers shall 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.A review meeting shall be held in the month of September 2021, the committee also proposed for housing all the District officers of Dimapur Agri & Allied Departments at Administrative building at Agri Expo Dimapur for better co-ordination and to facilitate the 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 presented power point presentation and highlighted the extent of damage of various crops across the districts in Nagaland due to erratic rainfall.
(Esuihangle IA & Takumpula IA)
