Upper Subansiri witnesses green revolution

Daporijo, Jul 26 (UNI) Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh has made rapid strides in the agricultural sector with record production of 27,113.08 MT of various crops, produced in an area of 11,327.5 hectare.

Out of the total production, the district recorded 9517.7 MT of paddy production followed by 7,347.3 MT of colocasia during 2005-2006, District Agricultural Officer (DAO) Dusa Lida informed UNI.

The other crops produced in the district during the year include: millet 1605.1 MT, Maize (1229.9MT), other cereals (10.6 MT), pea (13.2 MT), Arahar dal (5.58 MT), other pulses (64.7MT), sugarcane (567 MT), green chilly (306.3 MT), ginger (910.8 MT), potato (2390 MT), cabbage (330 MT), brinjal (492.3 MT), radish (504.5 MT), sweet potato (1634. MT) and soyabean 183.8 MT, Mr Lida disclosed.

There are eight blocks in the district covering 398 villages and 13 circle headquarters; he said adding the entire district had to be covered by 55 agriculture field assistants, which was too extensive.

'' From the agriculture point of view, the entire district could be divided into two broad regions on the basis of topography and agro-climatic conditions which include; area of intensive agricultural activities and area of limited activities, '' he said.

The traditional system of sustenance was still prevalent in major parts of the district namely Taliha, Siyum, Nacho, Limeking, Taksing, Giba and Puchigeko circles, he informed. The main field crops of the district were paddy, millet, maize and vegetables and a major breakthrough was made in motivating the farmers to take up potato, mustard, soyabean, arahar, sugarcane and ginger cultivation, he added.

'' There are 34 progressive farmers in the district and the department has been extending all sorts of assistance including seeds, fertiliser, technology and other logistic support, '' the DAO disclosed adding, subsidy on seeds and fertilizers varies between 40 to 60 per cent.

Besides, organising various training programmes for the farmers, the department had also been providing rice mills to the public every year as per demands with a subsidy of ten thousand.

Referring to the inadequate marketing facilities due to lack of proper transportation of the produces to outside markets, the DAO informed that produces were generally consumed locally and sometime sent outside through agricultural produce marketing corporation (APMC).

'' Through APMC, the department used to transport 40 to 50 trucks of oranges produced in the district annually to the markets in neighbouring Assam, '' he added.

UNI UPB SJC/src1156