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WORKSHOP ON AGRICULTURE: STRATEGIES, POLICIES & PRACTICES FOR NORTH EAST GUWAHATI 30 th SEPT to 1 st OCT 2010. GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. INTRODUCTION:
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WORKSHOP ON AGRICULTURE:STRATEGIES, POLICIES & PRACTICES FOR NORTH EASTGUWAHATI30th SEPT to 1st OCT 2010 GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
INTRODUCTION: • Nagalandis entirely hilly except for a corridor of narrow plain areas adjoining Assam. Agriculture is the mainstay of people of Nagaland, intricately interwoven with the socio-economic and cultural practices of different tribes. Over 75 % engaged in agriculture and allied activities. Building on these background realities, Department seek to promote technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading and socially acceptable Sustainable development using the natural resources: land, water and genetic endowment.A major shift in policy was made from subsistencelevel toa commercial oriented production programme.Taking into account 2001 census of total population of 20 lakh it is envisioned that by 2020 the population will stand at 51 lakh @ 5 % per annum Growth Rate wherein food grain requirement stands at 9.33 lakh MT.
BASIC INFORMATION 1. Population Census (2001) Total population : 19,88,636 Rural population : 16,35,815 Total farming household : 1,49,171 2. Total Geographical Area : 16,579 Sq.km Total cultivable area : 7,21,924 ha Gross cropped area : 4,19,760 ha Double cropped area : 1,20,000 ha Net cropped area : 2,99,760 ha Gross irrigated area : 91,840 ha Net irrigated area : 72,670 ha 3. Food-grain Production (2009-10) : 3,57,120 MT 4. Oilseeds Production (2009-10) : 86,020 MT 5. Commercial Production (2009-10) : 3,02,350 MT
RAINFALL DATA FOR THE YEAR 2008, 2009 & 2010 (FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST) Average rainfall in mm
STRATEGIES: 1. Sustainability & Natural Resource Management: Natural resources like land and water to be given top priority in course of planning for agriculture development. Sensitization of the farming community with the environmental and impact of climate on agriculture. Balanced and conjunctive use of bio-mass, organic and inorganic fertilizers and controlled use of agro-chemicals through integrated nutrients and pest management (INM & IPM) will be encouraged for sustained production. • 2. Incentives/Financial support: Commercial production of identified crops as per crop zoning to be ensured as and when incentives for its production are provided to the farming communities. • 3. Disaster Management: Recent phenomenon of climate change has paused threats to the Food Security. Sudden erratic behavior of monsoon cause havoc for agriculture production. Contingent plans to mitigate such situations will be evolved.
4. Efficient water management & Double Cropping Farm land is left fallow after harvest of Kharif crops due to non- availability of irrigationfacilities. Crop production can be doubled if adequate irrigation facilities are made available by way of Integrated watershed Development of Rain water, Ground water,Soil water and Run-off water efficiently, Percolation tank, recharge tank etc. • 5. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) & Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Chemical fertilizers consumption is low (1.5 kg/ha in terms of NPK) Emphasis given to use organic manures along with fertilizers for higher production and sustainability of crop and soil productivity.Natural resources management through Integrated Pest Management (IPM),applying bio -control agents and bio- pesticides will be practiced. • 6. Research-Extension-Farm linkages Productivity of crops is far below the national average. Yield gap between Research and farmers field will be bridged through strong extension support and transfer of appropriate technologies.
7. Watershed development for sustainable farming Highest priority to holistic and sustainable development of rain-fed areas through a watershed development approach for developing dry lands on a watershed basis with wider adoption of the best practices to enhance crop yields. 8. SeedsInput management • Production of quality seeds & procurement policy • Adoption of Seed Village and intensify Seed Village scheme • Enhance Seed replacement rate with quality & High yielding • Strengthen seed testing laboratory • Formation of Seed Sub-committee • Promote System of Rice Intensification (SRI) 9. Promotion of Farm Mechanisation Farm mechanization for improving crop productivity and reduce cost Women friendly farm equipments & Agro Service Centers will be promoted.
10. Fallow Management & Jhum intensification Recent studies of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have shown that much of the blame on Jhum system was misdirected. Instead of discouraging the jhum cultivation, improving upon the existing system through indigenous fallow management& jhum intensification will be addressed since the system cannot be done away with. 11. Organic Farming Restoration of soil health and fertility with the following strategies : • Augmenting production and use of non-chemical fertilizer suited to different farming situations. • Developing Organic Package of Practices. • Organic Farmers Association to facilitate certification 12. Integrated farming To minimize the risk of the farming, integrated farming system/ approach will be encouraged in the State. Combination of different farm productionsystemsviz.agriculture,plantationcrops,horticulture,livestocks, poultry, agro-forestry, sericulture , pisciculture etc will be promoted.
13. Agriculture Marketing, Infrastructure & linkages • Development of rural market infrastructures & linkages • Agri-Export Zones • Enforcement of APMC Act • Man power development • 14. Women in Agriculture Women are the largest agricultural work-force in the state. Gender sensitization & empowerment and developing entrepreneurship skill 15. e -Agriculture To providing interactive Demand Based Agricultural Information through ICT to help farmers access information on commodity prices, package of practices for cultivation, crop care and in forging direct relationships with potential buyers in order to provide better value for their produce.
16. Post Harvest Management & Value addition: To work out strategies on value addition to final product with due consideration on cost-effectiveness for consumers. 17. Agricultural Link Road: Agricultural link roads are rural based and play a vital role in providing connectivity to potential areas accelerating production and productivity, fostering transportation of Agricultural inputs and produces, besides generating economic benefit for non-farm sector activities .
STATE POLICIES: The department has made a major shift in its policy of subsistence level to commercial oriented production programme. The State Agriculture Policy 2009 has formulated strategies to address Crop potentials by way of increase production & productivity, value addition to agricultural products, setting up of agro-centres and rural markets, micro-credit facilities, development of human resources and empowerment of farmers and promoting organic culture for healthy living. Other policy issues to be taken up are 1. Land holding Policy 2. Intersectorial linkages & information sharing policy 3. Bottom up Institutional approach 4. Credit support & investment in rural sector
PRACTICES: Traditionally agrarian, over 75 % of the Nagaland’s population live in rural areas and they depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. Majority of the farmers practice shifting cultivation locally known as Jhum which accounts for about 76% of the net cropped area. This Indigenous system of farming meets the basic needs for food, fuel and housing materials to make subsistence living. 2. The second is WTRC (wet terrace rice cultivation) accounted for 24 % of the net cropped area which is practised alongside in rainfed high slopes and foothills in the state.
Major problems that need to be tackled are: • Soil nutrition & health • Soil erosion • Land degradation • Water availability & irrigation • Lack of improved rainfed varieties • Poor knowledge base • Resource poor farmers • Low farm productivity • Poor infrastructure • Lack of credit facilities & linkages