North East Watch

KALGACHIA, Dec 11 2008 – In view of the threat likely to be posed by increase in population and therefore food crisis in 2020 in our country, the Central government recently took up a scheme called ‘National Food Security programme’ in the meeting of National Development Council.

The objective of the scheme is to store 10,000000 ton rice, 2,000000 ton ‘rabi crops’, and 8,000000 ton wheat additionally in our country. Expected results were achieved in 22 districts of south India in 2003 by cultivating various crops through SRI method, invented by French agriculturist Henryde Lalani.

Meanwhile, the farmers of Kokila-Majpara village in Bongaigaon district have been able to bring in ample hope by cultivating one bigha of land where they have produced as much as 16 quintal rice through SRI method. As per departmental source special steps have been taken to implement this IPP scheme in a total of 133 districts of 12 provinces of the country with 13 districts of Assam Bongaigaon too was included in this scheme. Currently 92 poor farmers of the district have applied this ‘system of intensification’ in their field, 15 farmers following SRI method and 77 farmers by IPP method have played a role in increasing the production of rice in this area. Reportedly 61 farmers in North Salmara subdivision, 17 in Bongaigaon subdivision and 14 in Bijni subdivision under the district are applying this method.

One Mantaz Ali, and educated farmer of Kokila Majpara village has been able to produce more than 16 quintal rice in one bigha of land. Meanwhile this village has been declared as ‘Bijgaon’ (seed-village). Moreover, agriculture officer Ikramul Islam recently inaugurated an agricultural school in the village.