MOHALONI, Sep 4: An awareness programme on the Jal Shakti Abhiyan was organized for farmers by the KVK Namsai (ICAR RC for NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar) here in Namsai district on Tuesday to encourage the people to join hands for water conservation and create a peoples’ movement along the lines of the Swachh Bharat Mission, to save water and secure the future.
Keeping in line with the campaign, the KVK Namsai imparted scientific knowledge and methodology on water conservation in agriculture, horticulture and livestock farming at Mohaloni village to 31 farmers, including gaon burahs.
Senior Scientist and Head, Dr Manish Kanwat explained about the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and how the programme started with the example of Latur district of Maharashtra.
He also highlighted problems of water scarcity faced by the farmers in different parts of India due to uneven rainfall distribution in the country.
Agrometeorology Scientist Bidyapati Ngangom gave details about the campaign and explained the importance of water conservation in agriculture and horticultural crops, water requirements of major crops of Namsai district.
She spoke about different agronomic practices, like mulching that could be adopted in crop cultivation.
Ngangom also encouraged farmers to adopt rice cropping system with soil moisture conservation practices and advised participants to choose crop varieties that can grow with less water consumption.
She also shared about the different technologies and methods of rain water harvesting and surface runoff water harvesting, besides encouraging farmers to adopt improved water management technologies, such as pressurized irrigation system (drip and sprinkler, roof water harvesting, micro-rainwater harvesting structures, and IFS module along with agro-met advisory service of weather forecast.
Animal Science Scientist, Dr BKD Borah explained the application of the principle of ‘per drop more crop’ in livestock farming by providing required quantity of water to their livestock and poultry.
At present, 1592 blocks in 256 districts of the country are under water-stress conditions and special intervention is being carried out by the central as well as state agencies to sort out the water scarcity and increase water availability for all.
