Farmers of 25 villages in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar got the opportunity to double their income after Niti Ayog identified their district as an ‘Aspirational District’ amongst the 115 such districts selected across the country under Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan (KKA). A three-day residential training on production of Kharif oilseed and cereals for grain and seed was inaugurated at KVK Chandel on Monday.
KKA is undertaken to aid, assist and advise farmers on how to improve their farming techniques and raise their incomes in the line with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. The programme which was formally launched on June 1 this year will conclude on July 31.
In Manipur, this programme is being implemented by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Chandel district in convergence with the Department of Agriculture, Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry and other line departments and is aimed at doubling of farmers’ income by 2022, Nodal Officer (KKA) Chandel, I Meghachandra Singh said. The farmers were given training on mushroom cultivation, honey bee rearing, kitchen gardening, oilseed and cereal production under the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Letkhogin urged the farmer participants to utilize the knowledge imparted during the training programme. He spoke on the need for farmers to obtain seeds and other inputs from the Departments on a group basis and not individually.
In his speech, DC Chandel Krishna Kumar called upon the farmers of Chandel to switch from mono-cropping to double or triple cropping so as to double their income before 2022 by utilising Chakpi river water to the maximum level. DC also suggested encouraging the local farmers to take up cultivation of fruits, flowers or lemongrass instead of poppy cultivation.