Second Crop to boost paddy production in State

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, February 26: For the benefits of farmers and to boost crop production in Assam, the ‘second crop’ will be introduced by the State government. From March 15, as part of a pilot project, the second crop will be planted on 200 hectares of land in different places of the State.

Announcing this here on Thursday, State Agriculture Minister Rockybul Hussain  said that all help, including electric pumps, seeds, etc. would be provided to farmers to adopt second crop for good production and profit. “Paddy produced by using second crop will be purchased by the State Agriculture Department.”

He said that farmers would be provided minimum support price for potato and onion and it would be fixed soon by the government. “To store potato and onion produced by farmers, 440 small storage centres will be set up in different parts of the State,” he said, adding, “The government has already started discussion with some private players and others in this regard.”

“We will provide equipment, minimum support price, quality seeds and others to farmers. We will also purchase their produce.”

According to Hussain, the Agriculture Department had also adopted a pilot project that would help boost vegetable production in the State in a big way. “We will also purchase vegetables directly from farmers and sell the same at seven markets in the city.”

These seven markets, according to the Minister, are Beltola, Chandmari, Ganeshguri, Fancy Bazar, Six Mile, Maligaon and rengi. “Within the next 15 days, the process will start.”

Expressing his unhappiness over the way the BARD and other banks issue Kisan Credit Cards to farmers in the State, the Agriculture Minister said, “We have told these banks to fulfil their targets. We have also told that the banks which issue maximum number of Kisan Credit Cards to farmers will be given preference by the State government by keeping Central pool of funds released to the State with the banks. The government will withdraw all its funds from the bank which fails to issue maximum Kisan Credit Cards to farmers.”  For the greater interests of farmers, agriculture centre would be set up at every block in the State, Hussain added.