The Neiphiu Rio-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government first announced 2006-2007 as the `Year of Farmers` and it continued till this year. During the period, the government utilized the Chief Minister`s Corpus Fund to distribute tractors and power tillers among farmers at different villages to ensure that they could enhance their production level.
As part of the government`s vision, the government on Monday provided some select farmers with 33 tractors and 32 power tillers that were procured from the CM`s corpus fund.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio , who distributed the machineries to the beneficiaries, said though 75% people of the state were engaged in farming, the domestic produce contributed about 20%. "This is diminishing return," he said, urging the farmers to increase their productivity through efficient ways of tilling land and adopting scientific and profit-oriented methods.
To drive home his point, Rio cited the examples of Punjab and Haryana — the two states that have not only become self-sufficient in agriculture but export wheat to other parts of the country. "Only 2% of Punjab`s land is cultivable, yet its produce return is about 20%," the CM said, adding that the farmers of his state should adopt double-crop system by taking up scientific agricultural and irrigation methods and not wait for seasonal crops.
Rio also urged the farmers, who enjoyed the benefits of the government scheme, to be the role models for their peers. "They should use the provided to them in the right earnest. Whatever the government does for them, they have to be efficient. Otherwise, nothing will be achieved," he said.
The CM also warned the beneficiaries not to sell off the tractors and power tillers. He added, "The government has come to know about such incidents." Rio said attaining food sufficiency was the top priority of his government. "The people of Nagaland are dependent on states. If Assam imposes a blockade, how many days can the people of Nagaland survive? This can change only if Nagaland becomes a food-sufficient state," he said.