Due to the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity, the state agriculture department has stressed the importance of evolving strategies and contingency plans to cope with the climate change for sustaining agricultural productivity and livelihoods of farming communities.
In a press release, director of agriculture stated that this could be ensured by fully utilising existing scientific knowledge on early warning systems, weather-based crop planning, and timely dissemination of agro-advisories to farmers.
For hill agriculture (Jhum/shifting cultivation), the department advised staggered log bunding across the slope to check run-off water in case of heavy rainfall and to identify areas for gully plucking with locally available materials.
The department advised the farmers to be vigilant for real time assessment and monitoring of crop situation, pests situation or any natural calamity.
Emphasising the importance of performing scouting on Fall Army Worm (FAW) in maize crop and other field crops, the department also stated that weeding operation should be carried out on timely interval to check crop-weed competition.
It suggested timely removal and destruction of pest and disease infected plant parts, weeds from the fields. Encouraging farmers to adopt Integrated Farming System Approach, the department further urged the farmers to adopt systematic staggered sowing (2 weeks apart) in nursery bed in WTRC/TRC to cope with climate unpredictability.
Besides, the farmers have also been advised to prepare side-drains around nursery beds to prevent damages from flash floods and wash-off.
It highlighted the need for early field preparation for WTRC/TRC; and adoption of direct-seeding in case of late monsoon.
For better moisture and weed management, the farmers were advised to adopt line transplanting or SRI in paddy, adding that young paddy seedlings should be used for better plant health and crop yield.
The department also recommended reserving seeds for re-sowing in case of any crop failure.
Meanwhile, in case of any incidences of pest and diseases outbreak and natural calamity, farmers have been advised to immediately report to the nearest district or sub-divisional agriculture office.