Nagaland

Nagaland
Nagaland is a mountainous state and has red and yellow, deep, acidic and soil with low in fertility. Shifting cultivation (jhum) is a common practice in the state and rice is the important crop. The cropping intensity is 110%. Fertilizer use is very low (less than 10kg/ha). Soil erosion is a problem. Suggested technological interventions for natural resource management for agriculture in the state are as follows:

� Liming and adequate fertilizer use for higher productivity in Mokokchung and Mon areas

� 3-tier system as an alternative to shifting cultivation

� Integrated farming system involving rice, pig and horticulture

� Vermicomposting

Rice

The state has 0.15 million ha under rice cultivation, which covers mainly rainfed areas. The state average productivity is about 1.7 tonnes/ha. The major constraints in production are jhum cultivation, acid soils, low coverage of high-yielding varieties, jhum cultivation and inadequate availability of seed and other inputs. The interventions are:

� Growing high-yielding varieties

� Discouraging jhum cultivation and encouraging of improved agricultural practices

� Application of lime

Pineapple

Fruit productivity in Nagaland is very low (3.7 tonnes/ha) as compared to national average (9.9 tonnes). The state has a potential for increasing fruit production, particularly pineapple with adoption of improved technologies:

� Use of varieties Kew and Queen

� Planting in trenches across the slope in two rows

� High density planting of 45,000 plants/ha

� Induction of uniform flowering with the use of 100 ppm ethephon

� Application of nutrients based on tissue analysis

Farm Tools and Equipment

The important tools, equipment and technologies that facilitate timely completion of farm operations, better placement of inputs and drudgery reduction, resulting in higher productivity in agriculture and post harvest processing in the state are: pre-germinated paddy seeder, cono weeder, serrated sickle, tubular maize sheller, greenhouse technology, horizontal biogas plant.