ITANAGAR, Jan 22: Minister for RWD, Science & Technology Honchun Ngandam expressed concern over the existing development scenario in his native district, Longding, regarding agriculture, horticulture and allied sector, and deforestation for shifting cultivation.
Chairing a meeting of Science & Technology Department here, Ngandam said that our main motive is for the scientific intervention for sustainable development of Arunachal Pradesh with special reference to the Longding district.
Expressing serious concern over the shifting cultivation practice that involves cutting and burning of jungles, especially in Longding district, the Minister exhorted that we should try to avoid deforestation and protect the natural ecosystem.
“Shifting cultivation is being practiced by the people of the district without any scientific methods resulting in low crop production,” he pointed. The soil erosion, river sedimentation, climate changes, global warming, etc are the result of the deforestation across the world, he said.
Arunachal Pradesh is characterized by hilly and rugged terrain condition, wherein soil & water conservation like terracing is very useful for sustainable agricultural development, he said and urged the department and the State Remote Sensing Application Centre (SRSAC) to come up with more scientific measures to increase productivity and stop soil losses in the State with the use of Remote Sensing & GIS and UAV technologies for submission to the Govt for necessary action.
SRSAC explained the shifting cultivation mapping and monitoring report and maps covering the entire State. Ngandam requested the Secretary (S&T), Director (S&T) and the Director (SRSAC) to visit Longding district to personally see the agricultural practices, jhum cultivation, and interact with the locals, farmers, Panchayat leaders and the Govt officials.
The Minister also suggested constituting a team of scientists/engineers from S&T Dept and SRSAC to visit all the districts starting from next month.