Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has laid stress on the use of advanced scientific technologies for enhanced agricultural production in the state. Sonowal also urged the farmers of the state to take a pledge to adopt new scientific methods of farming for strengthening their economic condition.
Inaugurating the 4th Assam International Agri-Horticultural Show 2017, organized by the Agriculture department and Horticultural & Food Processing department in association with Assam Agricultural University, Indian Chambers of Commerce and NABARD at College of Veterinary Science Playground, Khanapara in Guwahati; the chief minister said that the farmers should focus on soil-study. Sonowal asked the Agriculture department to support the farmers with valuable inputs for increasing their production without disturbing the ecological balance.
“We want to grow economically without destroying the ecology. The state government will give priority to organic farming to maintain the ecological balance,” Sonowal said adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also outlined his vision of making Northeast India an organic hub in his maiden speech in the parliament.
The chief minister also pointed out that the state government has recently launched chief minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana to double the farm economy in the state by investing Rs 1.2 crore in each revenue village. In the next five years, the government will invest around Rs 30,000 crore in 24,000 revenue villages of the state under this scheme.
Stating that the state is endowed with very fertile land for cultivation, the chief minister said that Assam can outsmart the agri-advanced states like Punjab and Haryana in terms of production if the available resources are properly exploited.
Sonowal also mentioned that the government is committed to strengthen the agriculture sector to attract the new generation to take it up as a calling and assured the farmers that soon the government would ensure minimum support price for their production.
Considering the limitation of cultivation period in the state which is affected by recurrent floods, Sonowal asked Assam Agricultural University and agricultural scientists to discover new variety of seeds that can be harvested twice during the post monsoon season.
Assam agriculture minister Atul Bora said that the Agri-Horticultural Show would help in the growth of export and investment in agriculture sector in Assam. He also commented that the farmers of the state would highly be benefitted from the show as the same would give them an exposure of advanced farming technologies.
The agriculture minister also highlighted the steps taken up for soil testing in the state and informed that the government has already set up 214 mini soil testing laboratories in the state. He also informed that Indian Agricultural Research Institute will soon be set up in Dhemaji and government will also release Assam Agricultural Policy.
The Agri-Horticultural Show proposes to generate more opportunities for local businessmen to interact with national and international business organizations by developing a bridge between the businessmen and government and businessmen and farmers. In the current edition of the show, 6o international companies and 10 national companies affiliated to Indian Chambers of Commerce have participated.
