New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced on Monday that he would soon visit flood-affected areas in Assam to take a first-hand account of the farmers' plight.
Chouhan noted that while some districts in Assam were hit by floods, others faced severe drought. He assured that both the state and central governments would make every possible effort to provide relief to farmers in these affected regions. "We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the farmers of the state in any natural calamity. We understand their hardships and will take measures to provide them relief," he said.
The Union Minister also instructed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to notify suitable varieties of rajma, masoor (lentil), arhar (pigeon pea), sunflower, fodder maize, garlic, and onion specific to Assam's agro-climatic conditions. To ensure farmers benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), he also directed relaxation of the mandatory Digital Farmer Registry requirement. Additionally, he approved a one-year extension for the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) in Assam and instructed ministry officials to examine other related matters.
The developments came during a meeting of the Union minister with Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday. (PIB)
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