Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Meghalaya Soil and Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N. Marak is pushing farmers to ditch traditional jhum cultivation. He wants them to swap those old methods for the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology project. It is a smarter way to farm. The Soil and Water Conservation Department currently runs the program at Nengmandalgre in East Garo Hills.
The goal is simple. Stop the soil from washing away. Keep the ground fertile. Marak argues that planting trees and crops specifically chosen for the local terrain will safeguard vital catchment areas. Farmers need to look ahead. Marak stated, "Sustainable farming should ensure that future generations inherit healthy and productive land."
The initiative also aims to pad the wallets of local growers. It encourages mixing crop work with piggery, goat rearing, and cattle rearing. This diversification offers a safety net beyond simple harvests. Marak sees this as a fix for long-term land management issues, aiming to boost rural livelihoods while protecting the environment for years to come.
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