Bora spells out 100-day schedule, to ensure Class 1 Citizen status to farmers

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 3: Spelling out the 100-day work programmes of his department, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora today said that giving Class 1 citizen status to actual famers of the State can only lure the next generation to cultivation.

Bora had a review meeting with Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on the 100-day work schedule of his government yesterday.

Talking to newsmen in the State AGP headquarters at Ambari in the city today, Atul Bora said: “My department is ready to take steps to work for the interest of farmers. The actual farmers will be treated as Class 1 citizens. They will be issued identity cards, besides inviting them as special guests in Independence Day programmes. If they get their due honour in society, the future generation will be attracted towards cultivation.”

Bora said: “We’ve already drawn a roadmap in the 100-day programmes of the department to boost the economic and social status of the actual farmers in the State. Within 100 days, we’re going to issue health cards to some 30,000 farmers of the State. A cold storage with a capacity of 200 metric tonnes is going to be set up in Jorhat during the 100 days. There’ll be e-tendering for the supply of seeds. An agriculture demonstration centre is also going to be set up at Bamunigaon in Kamrup district. As many as 20,000 quintals of seeds will be distributed within the 100 days. Adequate measures will be taken to see that the farmers aren’t deceived by giving them chaffs, instead of seeds. Saplings of black berries will also be distributed in the State for plantation.”

According to Bora, top officers of his department will visit the agricultural activities in States like Gujarat, Harya and Punjab so as to development agriculture in the State. “In order to help farmers development their economic condition, an agricultural commercial complex will be set up Lakhimpur and Kokrajhar districts, besides setting up a truck terminus for carrying agricultural produce at Tinsukia, a business centre at Lanka, a storm water draige system at Barpeta Road and Simaluguri,” Bora said, and added that the corrupt officials would be punished.

On the 100-day action plan and agenda of the Aimal Husbandry and Veteriry Department, the minister said: “The start of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMO) vaccition of all the cattle in the State, initially in Jorhat, lbari and Golaghat districts; artificial insemition (Al) to be taken up in mission mode and 1,66,000 doses to be administered; production at Kaliabor Duck Breeding Farm and Hajo Duck Farm; commercialization of four of the 22 poultry farms will be commercialized on PPP mode; taking up intensive pig rearing projects in Majuli, Bokakhat and  Joi; fodder cultivation (oat seed distribution to 10,000 individuals in 20 districts under RKVY; training camps at 10 places in veteriry and dairy training camps at 10 districts, Kamrup, gaon, Golaghat, Jorhat (Majuli), Lakhimpur, Cachar, Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Goalpara and  Sonitpur; 50 sheep and goat /quail farmers in two batches to be sent outside the State for training on capacity building; East Assam Milk Union Ltd. (EAMUL) to  be operatiolized in Jorhat region and milk supply scheme to be started in Bokakhat.”