Plea against fertilizers

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, October 1, 2018:  Horticulture and soil conservation minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar today appealed to the farmers of the state to end the use of fertilizers to achieve organic state status for Manipur during a two-day Interface Programme on Strengthening of Farmer Producer Companies under MOVCDNER’ held at training hall of directorate of agriculture, organised by Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), department of horticulture and soil conservation and department of agriculture.

He urged the farmers to unanimously stop using fertilisers for a healthier Manipur.

Shyamkumar said that he has proposed to the chief minister and his council of ministers that the government should ban chemical fertilisers in the state and replace with vermicompost. He said the increasing number of cancer cases in the state is alarming and it is the collective responsibility of all the stakeholders to resolve to take serious action.

Shyamkumar advised the officers of the department to impart awareness among the farmers about organic cultivation and various schemes. He said there is a need for an emotional connection between the farmers and the officials of the department to succeed in achieving the organic state status for Manipur.

Letkhogin Haokip, additional chief secretary (Agriculture) said for the state to become food self-sufficient, cooperation is needed both from the government and the farmers. He said all the stakeholders must contribute to make Manipur self reliant and self-sufficient state.

JC Ramthanga, principal secretary (horticulture and soil conservation) said the continuous usage of fertilisers has been the cause of various health ailments. He said the ultimate objective of MOMA under the central scheme MOVCDNER is to make Manipur 100 percent organic, and various programmes are being undertaken in all the districts of the state.

He said as part of the objective, establishments of cold chains in all the districts are in the process. He said that the government alone cannot ensure success of the programme, as full cooperation is needed from the farmersand the process of setting up of various Farmers Producer Organisations are under process.