Manipur

Manipur
The state characterized by crested hills and widely spaced valleys, has about 10% area under cultivation. The red and yellow soils are moderately deep, acidic and deficient in phosphorus. Rice is important crop of the state with low productivity. Shifting cultivation is practised traditionally by the tribal people. Soil erosion is a problem on sloping lands. Suggested technological interventions for natural resource management for agriculture in the state are as follows:

� Watershed management including water harvesting

� Amelioration of acid soils in Churachandpur and Tamenlong areas

� Vermicomposting for fruit and plantation crops

� Farming system involving rice, pig, fish and poultry

Rice

The state has 0.18 million ha under rice cultivation, which covers both irrigated and rainfed areas. The area has increased from 0.16 to 0.18 million ha during last seven years. The state average productivity is about 2.5 tonnes/ha. The major constraints in production are shifting (jhum) cultivation, low fertilizer use, low coverage under high-yielding varieties, gall midge and blast. The suggested technological interventions are:

� Cultivation of locally suitable high-yielding varities such as Phou-oibi, Punshi, RCM 5, RCM 9, CAU R1, Leimaphou, Tamphaphon (irrigated); Akutiphou, Lemaphou (irrigated hills); Eriemaphou (deep water)

� Effective control of gall midge and blast through IPM involving resistant varieties (CAU R1) and blasticides

� Discouraging jhum cultivation and adoption of improved agricultural practices

Off-season vegetables

Off-season production of tomato, brinjal, garden pea, cauliflower and cabbage is widely adopted by the farmers for higher returns in Manipur because of ideal soil and climatic conditions for cultivation of vegetable. Protected cultivation of vegetables has vast potential here. Area, production and productivity of different vegetables grown during off-season in Manipur has considerably increased, however, there is scope to further increase productivity about two-times by following technological interventions:

Tomato

� Adoption of hybrids (Arka Vardan, BSS 20)

� Adoption of cultivars/hybrids (Avinash 2, H 86, BRA 2) resistant to bacterial wilt and TyLCV