The Indigenous tribes of Arunachal are agrarian, however the hilly terrain and lack of area for wet rice cultivation has largely hindered its production potential. In other words, the local populace is heavily dependent on other states for food grains. This situation of extreme low productivity is the underlying problem of agriculture here which threatens its food security.

Arunachal, an agriculture based society with majority of inhabitants depending on small land holdings for producing grains mostly to last a season or two. With no other means, failure of crops can literally spell doom for the small communities dependent on agriculture.

Though agrarian, the farming community is dwindling and the existing ones don’t produce in bulk for market consumption. Devoid of much government support and respect our farmers are abandoning this noble task and turning to other forms of employment. Farmers engaged currently are from the previous generation and even they discourage their children from following in their footsteps.

If Arunachal wants food security, it must start from within rather than depending on alms from the Centre. The obvious leakages in the Public Distribution System has proved that it is no logical solution to stave off starvation, therefore the farming community must be empowered and revived to carry on their practice and stay self sufficient.

Government must provide irrigation facilities, financial assistance and importantly introduce high yielding varieties of paddy etc to spike production in order to boost the morale of the farmers.  Initiative like the recently announced “Chief Minister’s Krishi Rinn Yojana” through which the state has decided to provide Zero Interest Crop loan to farmers  to enable them easy access to formal credit will help resuscitate this languishing sector. The campaign to provide soil health card with nutrient information of soil would help the farmers to educate about most viable and appropriate cropping pattern suiting the climatic conditions in the region. Shortage of
infrastructure like soil testing labs is hindrances but it’s a move in right direction.

Instead of focusing more on cash crops, the need of the hour is to encourage farmers engaged in cultivation of food crops. Their prosperity is directly linked to food security for the masses.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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