By The Editor
In old days, population was scarce and land was plenty. So in spite of primitive methods, people could somehow manage to produce what they needed and sold what was left. But as population increased whereas land remained same because agricultural production could not meet people’s need there was frequent hunger and starvation. About quarter of earth’s surface is land, the rest three quarters being covered by oceans and rivers. Besides housing and other developmental projects remaining land may be rocky and barren, etc and whatever is left and available for raising crops is quite small. With passage of time, science and technology has benefited farmers greatly as manual labour was soon replaced by machineries while at the same time becoming well aware of importance of soil management. Farmers no longer rely on extensive cultivation but on intensive system and rotation of crops which is more beneficial. After harvesting, it is advisable to sow cover crops like grass, clover and rye in order not to leave land bare for protecting against wind or washing away. Then they are plowed under at spring-time which also enriches the soil.
Soil management also includes irrigation, drainage and fertilisation. In dry lands caused by water shortage or not enough rainfall, irrigation is helpful. When soil is wet and sticky there is insufficient air circulating around which roots need for nutrition and growth. Cleansing and drainage will eventually make the soil fit for growing crops and heavy swamps have been turned into productive farmlands by means of machineries. To replenish fertility of the soil after plant food in the soil is used up, manure as well as animal and plant wastes were the fertilisers used by primitive people. Nowadays these are substituted by artificial fertilisers and lately agricultural scientists are advocating that natural or organic manure is the best and farmer-friendly. They have also developed suitable chemical herbicides which kill weeds and insects without harming desirable plants.
State depends for much of its essentials including foodgrains from outside, cost of which fluctuate due to various unforeseen reasons. Consequently, it is high time that Meghalaya pay more heed to agriculture sector so that local farmers will be able to accept challenges of the time and thereby becoming more education-oriented as well as more productive thus contributing much to state’s economy. Recently on January 5, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, inaugurated the administrative-cum-academic block office of the College of Agriculture at Kyrdemkulai, Ri Bhoi district. Later in the day, after ceremoniously inaugurating girls hostel of the college at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region, Umiam the minister expressed delight that agriculture has emerged as priority. Meanwhile, Government of Meghalaya should strongly and urgently stress for setting up of Central Agricultural University (CAU) in the state which is of high importance for educated farmers.