Assam intertiol agri-horticultural show to end today

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, February 14: The Assam Intertiol Agri-Horticultural Show will continue till February 15 against February 14 as scheduled earlier.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi visited the venue yesterday to inspect the arrangements. He also interacted with a number of delegates and stall owners regarding the arrangements of the department and response they have received from visitors so far. Also present in the occasion were Rakibul Hussain, State Minister of Agriculture, Panchayat and Rural Development and a host other dignitaries.

Gogoi spoke to the media here about the developments which have been made in the agri-horti sector in the past couple of years. In his speech, he said that Assam is no longer just rice, pulses and local vegetable producing state. The fertility of the land in this region and developments in the agri-horti sector has aided the production of those crops which were earlier imported from different parts of the country and abroad.

He also added that just exhibitions and fairs will not be sufficient to promote the agricultural produce and benefit the farmers of the region. The government will now lay more focus on marketing of the local produce, so that it reaches the consumers' efficiently and the farmers also earn proper revenue out of the same.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed that a footfall of over 1.5 lakhs visitors has been registered within three days of the show, which is being held at the College of Veteriry Sciences Playground at Khapara. The Department has also arranged for numerous training sessions for indigenous farmers and allied groups to help develop the agri-horti scerio in the region. A daily approximate of 1,000-1,500 farmers have been attending the training sessions and semirs.