LONGDING, 19 May: The Longding battalion of the Assam Rifles (AR), in collaboration with the Wancho Farmers’ Welfare Association (WFWA), recently organised a tour for 10 selected farmers from remote villages of the Wancho region to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Umiam (Meghalaya) to generate awareness among the farmers about migrating from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
The farmers of Longding district have been following the age-old method of jhum cultivation, which is unproductive and detrimental to the environment. They rely heavily on subsistence agriculture and lack awareness about the latest trends and technologies in farming.
The tour was arranged following a meeting among the battalion, the WFWA, the Longding KVK, and Kanubari MLA Gabriel D Wangsu.
During the two-day visit to the research centre, the farmers were exposed to terrace farming, organic farming, medium-scale piggery and poultry farming, animal husbandry and livestock management, apiculture, and the latest trends and technologies in agricultural farming.
“The Assam Rifles battalion based in Longding has decided to organise a farmer mela in Longding very shortly to ensure that majority of farmers residing in remote villages of Longding district benefit from the experiences of the nucleus of farmers who visited the ICAR, Umiam, from 17-19 May,” the AR said. (DIPRO)
