PASIGHAT, OCT 23:
The Agriculture Department of East Siang district launched the Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Yagrung Dere under Pasighat Block on Friday to promote natural farming, traditional pest management and the judicious use of organic inputs for soil conservation and environmental protection.
The programme was attended by Dr A R Kurubar, Director of Extension Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Raichur, Karnataka, as the chief guest; Bosing-I Zilla Parishad Member Toni Siram as the guest of honour; and Dr Bijendra Singh Rawat, Principal Scientist and Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Pasighat, as the special guest.
District Agriculture Officer Dana Moyong, Agriculture Development Officer Taboh Darang and members of the KVK’s Subject Matter Specialist team also participated.
Addressing the farmers, Moyong highlighted the importance of natural farming, traditional pest control methods and organic manure, including farmyard manure. He cautioned that excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers, weedicides and plant-protection chemicals could harm human health, degrade soil quality and pollute water resources. He urged farmers to adopt sustainable practices to maintain soil fertility and ensure long-term agricultural productivity.
Dr Kurubar encouraged farmers to preserve and strengthen traditional cultivation practices instead of relying excessively on chemical-based farming. He suggested that they visit agricultural institutions and farming centres in Karnataka to learn improved organic farming techniques, exchange knowledge and share practical experiences. He also appreciated the natural farming practices prevalent in the region and urged farmers to build on their indigenous knowledge.
Rawat informed the gathering that Arunachal Pradesh’s reported chemical fertiliser consumption was approximately 4 kg per hectare, compared with the national average of around 250 kg per hectare. He said the relatively low consumption provided an opportunity to sustain and strengthen environmentally friendly farming practices in the state.
He added that KVK Pasighat provides various organic farming inputs and products to farmers at nominal rates to support natural farming. He also encouraged farmers to share their indigenous knowledge, experiences and innovative practices with the KVK for wider dissemination.
Siram thanked the Agriculture Department for organising the programme and facilitating the exchange of agricultural knowledge. He urged farmers to make use of such initiatives and adopt suitable practices to improve productivity. He also called for more farmer-oriented schemes and support for Bosing-I, stating that the area’s fertile agricultural land had considerable potential for increased production if utilised effectively.
Earlier, Darang welcomed the farmers, officials and other participants, encouraging them to take an active part in the discussions and apply the knowledge gained in their fields.
The programme concluded with a call for collective efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, conserve soil health and combine traditional knowledge with appropriate scientific practices for long-term agricultural development.
