Coordination efforts of line department essential for self-sufficiency in flood grain productions: Hangkhanlian

Imphal, January 05, 2019 (DIPR): Agriculture, Vety. &  AH, Minister, Shri V. Hangkhanlian graced the Valedictory Programme of the first ever National Seminar on Strengthening of Seed System in the Northeastern and Unreached Regions – Problems,  Prospects and Policies” which was held today at RIMS, Jubilee Hall, Imphal.

Addressing the function as Chief Guest, Minister Shri V. Hangkhanlian said that in order to achieve self-sufficiency in food grain productions, coordination efforts of various line Departments are essential. The food grain productions of Manipur are 493.37 thousand tones whereas the requirement is 608.50 thousand tones having a shortfall of 115.15 thousand tones for the state, he informed.

He further emphasized that cropping intensity of the state is 151.9%, so assured irrigation, selective mechanization, gracious use of plants nutrients, relay cropping should be implemented to meet the increasing demand of the people. A set of concrete and workable recommendations that will be suitable for the Northeastern Regions will come out from this 3 days Seminar, he urged.

Mentioning the various programmes formulated and implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and farmers` Welfare under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister highlighted the programmes like Soil Health Card Schem (SHC), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKYV), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Small Farmers Agri. Business Consortium (SFAC), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Pradhan Mant5ri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). As per guidelines of Prime Minister “Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022,” the schemes are implementing in this regard and strategies for Manipur were prepared by experts from different stakeholders including ICAR, CAU and State Departments, he asserted.

During the occasion, many resource persons also present valuable inputs and suggestions for the improvement of seeds and agricultural products in the region.

Ch. Amir Singh Memorial Lifetimes Achievement Award, Scientist of Eminence, Young Scientist Award for 2017, & 2018, ISST Fellows, ISST Best Research Paper for the Year 2017 and others awards were handover to the awardees by the Chief Guest.

The function was attended by many eminent Scientists, professors stakeholders,  officers of the departments, research scholars, Directors, Head of the departments, staff and students, delegates from different parts of India and official staff of the government..

The Valedictory Programme was organized by Indian Society of Seed Technology, New Delhi in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NEH, Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal Central Agricultural University, Imphal & Department of Agricultures Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare MoAFW, Government of India.