Nagaland Governor, P B Acharya, has made a clarion call for empowering farmers with ‘knowledge and scientific expertise’ so as to enhance the economy of the State.
The Governor said this while addressing farmers and officials during field day cum farmers-scientist interaction on ‘crop diversification for enhancing cropping intensity in rice fallow land through resource conservation technology with special reference to Nagaland’ at ICAR Research Complex for NE Region, Nagaland centre at Medziphema in Dimapur.
“Farmers are the soul of the country and the state,” Acharya said, adding that for the country or state to move forward, ‘we need to strengthen the farmers’.
Calling upon the people of Nagaland to exploit the natural resources, the Governor urged the people to ‘create wealth out of natural resources’ as everything was at their disposal.
The Governor lamented that despite being blessed with natural resources in abundance, the State was still ‘dependant on the Central Government for everything’.
The Governor also expressed deep concern over the diminishing work culture in the Naga society, and said this is detrimental for the growth of any society.
Addressing the gathering, principal secretary, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department, MK Mero, asserted the need of ‘convergence with farmers’, saying they were the key if the state wanted to attain self-sufficiency.
He also called upon the educated youth to venture into livestock and agriculture farming.
In his address, director ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region situated at Umiam in Meghalaya, Dr Narendra Prakesh, said rain water harvesting was one of the major problems faced in the north-eastern region.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, ICAR, Nagaland centre director, Dr D J Rajkhowa, briefed the gathering on water harvesting, meat, poultry and other activities of ICAR.