Take steps to develop professiolism among farmers: CM tells DCs

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI, Feb 4: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal has issued strong directive to the deputy commissioners and the district agricultural officers to take immediate steps for developing professiolism of farmers so that rural economy of the state can be strengthen by improving the economic condition of the farmers.

The Chief Minister passed the direction while reviewing the implementation of Kisan Credit Card and other agriculture related schemes in the state with the deputy commissioners, district agricultural officers and bank officials through “Unti” video conference today from the Chief Minister’s conference room.

“Government puts utmost importance to strengthen the rural economy through effective implementation of agriculture based schemes in the state, Keeping this in mind, Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unyan Yoja is being rolled out to double farmers’ economy under which an amount of Rs. 1.2 crore will be invested in each revenue village in the next five years to double farm income” Sonowal said.

Underling the tremendous potential that agriculture holds in transforming the state’s economy, the Chief Minister directed the DCs to vigorously organize sensitization meetings of farmers in association with the district agricultural officers and the Banking officials to apprise them about the ways and means to fruitfully utilize the KCC loan for agricultural farming.

The Chief Minister also directed to vigorously organize training programmes of farmers on the new farming technologies and methods of productive farming. Sonowal further asked the DCs and concerned officials to take steps for encouraging farmers for adopting double and triple farming initiatives in the state.

The Chief Minister expressed happiness on the fact that farmers of several districts of the state are involved in triple cropping in a year. Sonowal asked the DCs to soon convene a congregation of such progressive farmers where he could interact with those farmers and earn first-hand experience of their success stories.

Expressing deep concern over huge number of KCC loan defaulters in the state, the Chief Minister directed the agriculture department and the Banks to step up co-ordition and obliterate the mistrust and distrust which has crept in between them. Sonowal further directed to jointly prepare the list of farmers for KCC loan so that mis-utilization of the loan amount can be checked.

The Chief Minister also asked to prepare list of prospective farmers and offer them KCC loan so that the amount is utilized for farming alone. Sonowal also asked the DCs to submit a list of farmers who have fruitfully utilized the KCC loan and significantly improved their income through farming.

Advocating a comprehensive database of farmers, Chief Minister Sonowal asked the DCs to develop their knowledge about the farmers, their level of income and how to improve their economic condition. Sonowal also stressed on organic farming and cultivation of other medicil plants to fulfil the demand of new agro based industries which are being set up in the state.

Chief Minister Sonowal also lauded the Ginger Federation initiative launched in Karbi Anglong district for marketing of ginger produce.

State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam VK Pipersenia, Additiol Chief Secretary (Agriculture) KK Mittal, Commissioner & Secretary to Chief Minister Sanjay Lohia, Secretary to Chief Minister Solanki Vishal Vasant and other senior officers of state government and representatives of Banks were present in the video conference.