Mizoram to attain self-sufficiency by 2007

Aizawl, May 16 (UNI) Mizoram agriculture department today chalked out a one-year blue-print plan for attaining self-sufficiency in food-grains and vegetable crops by 2007.

The department officials here stated that the main thrust of department was to achieve self sufficiency in foodgrains and vegetable in a short span of time.

One of the areas of focus of the department's plan would be land development for cultivation by terracing of gentle hillside slopes.

After the monsoon season, 58 hectares of potential land has been developed by mechanisation and 29.60 hectares terraced against the targetted development of 177 hectares of flat land for wet rice cultivation under the scheme of food-grain development and control of shifting cultivation.

The department also accorded top priority to the implementation of organic farming and encouraged the production and utilisation of bio-fertiliers and bio-pesticides. About 500 metric tonnes of different organic manures was procured for distribution to farmers all over the state.

A state Biological control laboratory established at Neihbawih produced different bio-pesticides for the control of different insects, pests and diseases.

More than 12 projects under Macro Management mode and eight other centrally sponsored schemes were taken up by the department.

The department procured 4315 quintals of seeds of field pea, arhar, French beans, maize, rape seed and mustard, cowpea, moong, groundnut and soya bean for distrubution to farmers during this year for implemtation of various centrally sponsored schemes such as National Pulses Development Programme (NPDP), Oilseed Production Programme (OPP) and Accelerated Maize Development Programme (AMDP), the officials highlighted.

Under the Minor irrigation scheme, a sum of more than Rs 100 crore would be invested with the help of NABARD loan and state plan fund, on 5432 hectares of land under the division and river-rift irrigation schemes.

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