Preparation to start Agriculture Census completed, will initiate soon: Biren

Imphal:​ Manipur has already initiated process for digitization of Agriculture, preparation to start the Agriculture Census for 2021-22 is completed and it will be initiated at the earliest, chief minister N. Biren Singh said.

Door to door enquiry will be conducted using Tablets or Smart phones to collect all relevant information of farmers. It is targeted to complete by December, the chief minister said.

Biren was attending a video conference chaired by Union minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Natural Farming and Digital Agriculture from the Cabinet Hall of the chief minister’s secretariat, on Thursday.

He highlighted steps taken up by the state and the progress made regarding Natural Farming and Digital Agriculture.

​Regarding natural farming in the state, he said natural farming in the state has improved much from before.​

“Considering the ill effects of the chemical fertilizers, we are encouraging natural and organic farming,” the chief minister said adding that locations where cattle are utilized in farming have been identified at four districts to set up GOVAR-DHAN plants on pilot basis.

He highlighted that earlier only around 5000 hectare of land was utilized for organic farming which has now increased to 37000 hectare. With the support and assistance from the ministries, the state government will be able to encourage 100 percent natural and organic farming, he concluded.

Following brief speeches from the participating chief ministers and state agriculture ministers, the video conference concluded with an address from Amit Shah.

The video conference was also attended by Union minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

Biren was accompanied by agriculture minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, horticulture and soil conservation minister Letpao Haokip, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, additional chief secretary P. Vaiphei, commissioner M. Joy Singh, officials of both Agriculture department and Horticulture and Soil Conservation department.