AIZAWL, Sept 10 - Mizoram Agriculture Minister, C Lalrinsanga on Monday said that the state government would focus on organic farming keeping aside �chemical fertilizers�.
Addressing a meeting at Mizo National Front (MNF) office here, Lalrinsanga said that the state government will collaborate with Central Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) and Mizoram University to produce vegetables and other crops through organic farming.
According to the Minister, the MNF had, in its previous term, passed Organic Act �but the Congress government headed by Lal Thanhawla failed to implement the Act�.
�We will implement the Organic Act and make massive efforts to focus on organic farming to produce healthy and cost effective vegetables and other crops,� he said. Organic farming is one of the top priorities of the government, he further said.
Lalrinsanga also said that the government would set up a biological control laboratory at Lengpui near Aizawl.
The government is taking effort to check crop damaging pest with the help of other pests through biological control, he added.
Lalrinsanga then said that Mizoram has been invaded by Fall Armyworm (FAW), a dangerous crop damaging pest, as soon as the MNF formed the government, causing severe damage to maize and other crops. The outbreak has been contained due to collective effort made by the state government and the farmers, he said.
The minister then said that the state government has launched crop insurance for farmers, which is one of the top priorities of the government.
He also said that measures would be taken to assist farmers with the help of empanelled insurance companies under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Crop Insurance (PMFBY). He added that efforts will be made to provide pension scheme to the farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maadhan Yojona (PMKMY) and Life Insurance Corporation.
