Series of awareness drives in NE to promote traditional crops' farming

New Delhi: In a move aimed at promoting as well as restoring the cultivation of traditional crops in northeastern regions, the government has decided to a hold series of awareness programmes in different parts of the NE region starting from Meghalaya and Assam.

The objective behind organising awareness workshops is to sensitise people of the region to cultivate their conventional crops along with high yielding varieties to make a balance between traditional and modern practices of farming.

"Certain areas of northeastern region are known for cultivation of different varieties of crops which are not grown in any other parts of the country, but farmers are giving up the cultivation of those crops due to lesser productivity," said Kuldeep Singh, who is director of National Bureau of Plants Genetics Resources (NBPGR).

While talking to Millennium Post, Singh further said, "The government is organising workshops to encourage farmers for growing aromatic crops such as black rice, sugandhmantri/gondhi, laibakngou. During the workshops, farmers were explained about the importance of such crops in maintaining ecological balance. We also guide them methods to protect traditional crops."

"We have already conducted two workshops one in Assam and other in Shillong, while some more workshops would be held other parts of the northeastern region," Singh said, adding that the government is also providing technical support to farmers.

"Local varieties of rice and wheat have started eroding due to the adoption of modern varieties of crops as these are high yielding and insect resistance," he said.

The government had also Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in 2015 to promote organic farming. The scheme was aimed at supporting and promoting conventional farming for the improvement of soil health.