PASIGHAT, Oct 23: Aimed at promoting natural farming, traditional pest management practices and judicious use of organic inputs to conserve soil health and protect the environment, the Agriculture Department, East Siang district, launched the Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Yagrung Dere under Pasighat Block on Thursday.
Speaking as chief guest on the occasion, Dr A R Kurubar, Director of Extension Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Raichur (Karnataka), encouraged farmers to preserve and strengthen their traditional cultivation practices rather than depend excessively on chemical-based farming methods.
He suggested that farmers visit agricultural institutions and farming centres in Karnataka to learn about improved organic farming techniques, exchange knowledge and share practical experiences. He also appreciated the natural farming practices prevalent in the region and egged on farmers to build on their traditional knowledge.
Bosing-I ZPM Toni Siram, in his speech, thanked the Agriculture Dept for facilitating the sharing of agricultural knowledge with farmers. He urged farmers to take advantage of such initiatives and adopt suitable practices to improve agricultural productivity.
He also requested the department to extend more farmer-oriented schemes and support to the Bosing-I area, observing that the region’s farmers were progressive and its naturally fertile agricultural land held considerable potential for increased production if utilized effectively.
Dr Bijendra Singh Rawat, Principal Scientist and Head KVK Pasighat, informed the farmers that Arunachal Pradesh’s reported chemical fertilizer consumption was approximately 4 kg per hectare, compared with the national average of around 250 kg per hectare. He observed that the relatively low consumption offered an opportunity to sustain and strengthen environmental friendly farming practices in the State.
He further informed the gathering that KVK Pasighat provides various organic farming inputs and products to farmers at nominal rates to support natural farming. He also invited farmers to share their indigenous knowledge, experiences and innovative farming practices with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra for wider dissemination.
Highlighting the objectives of the campaign, DAO Dana Moyong emphasized the importance of natural farming, traditional pest control methods and the use of organic manure and farmyard manure.
Cautioning that the excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, weedicides and plant-protection chemicals could adversely affect human health, degrade soil quality and pollute water resources, he urged farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices to maintain soil fertility and ensure long-term agricultural productivity.
Earlier, welcoming the farmers, officials and other participants including KVK’s Subject Matter Specialist team, ADO Taboh Darang encouraged farmers to actively participate in the discussions and apply the knowledge gained during the programme in their respective fields.
The programme concluded with an emphasis on collective efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, conserve soil health and encourage farmers to integrate traditional wisdom with appropriate scientific practices for sustainable agricultural development. (DIPRO)