IMPHAL, Jul 25: Villages located in the entire Moirang Assembly constituency in Bishnupur district will be modified as Model Seed Village for Paddy during Kharif season and suitable crop during Rabi season.

State agriculture minister  N Loken Singh formally inaugurated naming of Moirang as the Model Seed Village with IPM and INM technology today. The minister also distributed agricultural inputs to Moirang farmer during the inaugural function held at Purit Mandap, Moirang.

Altogether 40 farmers clubs located in Moirang formed an NGO under the name of Multipurpose Society for Social Upliftment, Moirang and the particular NGO has been given the task to turn Moirang as a Model Seed Village.

Agriculture minister N Loken, speaking at the inaugural function said the idea behind turning villages as Model Seed Village towards a successful Green Revolution in the state which will not only improve financial condition of the farmers but also make the state self reliant in agricultural products.

The minister also stated that Manipur continues to depend on products coming from outside due to depleting agricultural lands and increasing population despite the fact that state farmers managed to produce more crop at their level best. It is due to this reason that the idea of double cropping and green revolution crops in so as to meet demands of the people.

While stating that the state government has introduced Crop Insurance Scheme in four valley districts, the agriculture minister appealed to farmers to avail the opportunity. He said crop insurance was first introduced in Imphal West and Bishnupur during the year 2009-10 and the same scheme was also introduced in Imphal East and Thoubal in 2010-11.

He also announced that last date for submission of application form for availing crop insurance has been extended till the month of August.

Regarding shortage of fertilizers in the state, the agriculture minister said state government has been working at its level best to provide adequate fertilizers to farmers at subsidised rate despite the prevailing problem in transportation of goods into the state.

The inaugural function was also attended by M Prithiviraj, MLA Moirang, Letkhogin Haokip, IAS, Commissioner (Agriculture) and officials of the state agriculture department.

During the technical session held later in the afternoon, resource person from CAU imparted technological know-how to local farmers about IPM and INM models.