SHILLONG: The office of the District Horticulture Officer, East Khasi Hills has organized a one day awareness programme to farmers of Mylliem, Mawphlang and Khararshnong Laitkroh Blocks at IATC, Upper Shillong on the use of bio-fertlizers, bio-pesticides and bio-fungicides in potato and vegetable crops.
Farmers were motivated to take up organic cultivation, reduce and ultimately stop the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which are harmful to the soil as well as to human life.
Specialist of the K.V.K, Upper Shillong, B. Syiemlieh and B. Chyne educated the farmers in this regard.
The District Horticulture Officer, P.S. Kharnaior said, “We cannot be ignorant of the fact that the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has caused damage to the environment and our health”.
Though the use of chemicals cannot be done away with immediately, he urged the farmers to take up the organic cultivation in a phase wise manner in their field to reduce the economic loss due to transition.