CM distributes agar, bamboo saplings to farmers at Resubelpara

A Correspondent
Shillong, Aug 26: Continuing with the programme for agar and bamboo plantation across the State as part of Green Economy concept of the Government, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma distributed agar and bamboo saplings to the people of North Garo Hills at Resubelpara soon after his arrival from New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite the inclement weather, the programme - organized jointly by Horticulture & Agriculture departments - witnessed a huge turnout of people from the area.
The Chief Minister expressed his happiness over the overwhelming response from the people of the district where the District Horticulture Department received 4,000 applications for agar plantation even though the allotment was only for 1500.
Stating that this initiative of the Government was aimed at reversing the adverse effects of climate change and "make our habitations most liveable", Sangma said that plantation agar and bamboo along with other plants would not only help to create sustaible ecology but also bring remunerative returns to the farmers.
Referring to agar as "green diamond" and highlighting on its multiple uses, the Chief Minister, however, informed that agar would have no value unless it is infected and spoke of scientific approach to infecting the agar plants through artificial inoculation, which in itself would create a lot of employment opportunities for the youth.
Regarding bamboo plantation, the Chief Minister said that there is a huge demand for bamboo in India as it still has to import quality print papers from outside. When there is high demand and less supply there is huge business scope for bamboo growers, he added and urged the department to identify high-yielding varieties for plantation.
He expressed his confidence that by taking up agar and bamboo plantation on a large scale the State would also be able to reverse the trend of population migration from rural to urban areas.
The Chief Minister also emphasized on the need to give importance to agriculture and allied sectors to eble investors to connect to the huge potentialities of the region. He also stressed on linkage of the farming sector with the private sector facilitated by the government to garner maximum remunerative returns, adding that the Government would encourage large scale single cropping of agricultural produces like ginger, chilly, etc in fallow lands during paddy off season.