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NE needs zero tillage farming: ICAR

By The Assam Tribune

SHILLONG, May 24 (PTI): Agricultural experts have opined the need to introduce �zero tillage� farming in the north eastern region in view of the fact that farming in rain-fed areas is a high risk activity characterized as �complex-diverse-risk prone�.

�Intensive natural resource mining and continuous degradation of resources (soil, water, vegetation) under conventional agriculture practices will not ensure farm productivity and food security for the coming years,� a bulletin issued by the Indian Council ofAgricultural Research (ICAR) for NE Region, Umiam pointed out.

The research paper on agriculture said, in order to keep production system in different land situations sustainable, conservation agriculture based on minimum or zero tillage (no till), residue retention or incorporation and crop diversification is an alternative to conciliate agriculture with its environment and overcome constraints of climate change and high input costs.

�Resource conserving technologies using locally available resources encompasses practices that enhance resource or input-use efficiency and provide immediate, identifiable and demonstrable economic benefits such as reduction in production costs, saving of irrigation water, fuel, labour requirements, and timely establishment of crops resulting in improved yields, soil health and income,� the report further said.

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