Need to boost Agriculture: Sonowal

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 28: Assam Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal has said that the Agriculture Sector needs to be developed in the State and that the government is making all-out efforts to boost production in livestock and fish to make the State self-sufficient.

Sonowal said this today at the iugural function of Pig Expo 2016 organized by Indian Centre for Agricultural Research -tiol Research Centre on Pig at its premises at Rani on the outskirts of Guwahati. Highlighting the need to engage in piggery in a scientific way so that youths can find employment, Sonowal said that pig farming can generate big profits with small investment.

Iugurating a vaccine med “Cysvax” for T Solium tape worm found in pigs, the Chief Minister congratulated Indian Immunologicals Limited for bringing out the vaccine and said that the acceptability of pork and other related items would now increase as many people shun pork fearing tape worm infection. Urging the scientists engaged in veteriry research to come up with newer solutions to increase livestock production in the country, Sonowal said that research innovations must be applicable in the field and should bring practical benefits to people.   

Reiterating that development of piggery is imperative for nutritiol and livelihood security of the people of the rural and tribal areas of the North-eastern areas Sonowal said that piggery can supplement the income of the rural households as it can produce higher yields at low costs. “As pig farming provides quick returns since the marketable weight can be achieved within 6-8 months and there is a good demand for items such as pork, bacon, ham etc., in domestic and intertiol markets,” Sonowal said.

Saying that the there is a need to increase the production of pork as there is a tremendous demand for the meat in Northeast region, Chief Minister Sonowal said that ramping up the production volume would curtail import of pigs from States like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar etc., and would result in revenue generation within the State. “We wish to organize piggery sector in a scientific way matching the global best practices to promote it as an enterprise which can provide employment to the youths of the state,” Sonowal said.

Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Minister of Cultural Affairs ba Kumar Doley, MLAs Ramendra ryan Kalita and Bimal Bora were present also on the occasion.