Conversion into fish farms will be disastrous : VC

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 3: Central Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal Vice Chancellor Prof M Premjit has categorically warned that conversion of paddy fields into fish farms on account of declining rainfall and irregularity in rainfall pattern will bring about serious crisis in the State in future.
He was speaking at the opening session of an awareness programme on Agrometeorological Advisory Services held today at ICAR, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat.
The awareness programme was jointly organised by Agrometeorology Field Unit, Imphal and District         Agrometeorology Unit, Chandel.
Prof Premjit said that conversion of fertile paddy fields into fish farms would bring about serious crisis in the State where rice is the staple food. However there is no harm in converting low-lying paddy fields into fish farms which are not suitable for paddy cultivation, he said.  On account of the global climate change, a number of pests and insects which are seen much in the past are now very common in the State, he noted.
Extension of agro-advisory services to farmers would be highly beneficial and drones can be employed to take pictures of pests or diseases which are infecting plants, Prof Premjit said.  ICAR Joint Director in-charge Dr I Meghachandra said that on account of the global climate change, the State’s climate condition has also changed and it is now suitable for double cropping of paddy.
There is a growing need to harvest rain water so that they can be utilised when needed, he asserted while advocating rigorous afforestation activities.
During the technical session of the awareness programme which was attended by farmers from different districts of the State, Dr I Meghachandra and Prof L Nabachandra spoke on different topics. On the other hand, according to a report published by ICAR Imphal after studying weather data from 1958-2014 under the National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), the State’s mean annual maximum temperature rose by 0.1 degree Celsius in one decade while mean annual minimum temperature rose by 0.3 degree Celsius in one decade. It further projects that the State’s mean temperature would rise by 1.7 degree Celsius by the end of the 21st century.  Southern districts will become hotter and agricultural productivity would decline by 10 per cent in 2030, says the report. Incidence of heavy rainfall (above 100 mm) will grow, there will be shortage of potable water and the State’s food grain deficit would rise to 2218,000 tonnes in 2050, mentioned the report.