Organic manure a boon to agriculture

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Port Blair, Mar 5: 'Neek Cakes', organic manure, used in tsunami-hit Nicobar district is proving to be a boon to agriculture in the remote archipelago.

''The agriculture department was criticised by everyone for procuring organic manures from the outside but now see the result.

There is a boost in agriculture in Nicobar District, which was ravaged by tsunami two years ago,'' Director of Agricuture Department in Andaman Dr Salam told UNI yesterday.

Efforts of the Andaman and Nicobar Agriculture department to introduce vegetable cultivation has been acknowledged by various agencies.

This year the Andaman and Nicobar administration has received 'The Energy and Resources Institute State Award for Innovative Sustainable Development Initiatives 2006/07', informed Dr Salem.

''The government wants this area should be declared completely organic and we are also working on it. Organic manure is working wonders here,'' Dr Salam said.

However, environmentalists said whatever organic manures were required in Andaman and Nicobar Islands should be prepared in these islands only.

''Organic manure brings a lot of germs and diseases with it in a new place, where it is introduced. Local farmers should be encouraged to produce the manure here itself, ''said S Ray of Healthy Environment and Less Pollution Organisation.

The tsunami had damaged 10,837 hectares of land, including 1,730 hectares of paddy and other field crops, and 9,107 hectares of plantation crop. About 1,211 hectares of land is still submerged in sea due to inundation of seawater affecting 6,020 farmers directly.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a total of 50,000 hectares of cultivable land with coconut, paddy, fruit, arecanut, vegetables and spices as its major crops.

UNI

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