Assam CM Sonowal Showers Paddy Farmers with Praise for Hard Work amid Covid-19 Crisis

Guwahati:

Taking a break from the Covid-19 crisis that has put the nation's citizenry on edge, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today reached Maloibari in Kamrup (M), roughly 50 kms from the economic hub Guwahati, to watch the farmers harvest paddy in their fields and praised them for their toil.

Sonowal, taking a break from his hectic schedule, could be seen interacting with the humble farmers and asking them about the farming economy in the community, where around 110 families reside and the chief occupation is farming.

In a video that Sonowal uploaded on Twitter, the CM, wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing norms, could be seen interacting with several of the local farmers and making some inquiries about the nature of their profession. Sonowal could also be seen asking about the nitty grities of the farming profession and whether the farmers were facing any problems, such as flooding.

Sonowal captioned the video, "Rice fields are the backbone of our rural economy and farmers are its driving force. Glad to witness the golden paddy being reaped at Maloibari, Kamrup (M). As I interacted with the farmers, their hard work even in the time of COVID-19, inspire us all."

The farmers, on their part, seemed to be enjoying the Chief Minister's attention, and were all cheers, despite the grim turn that the economy has taken amid the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus contagion. Faces alight with smiles, they told the Chief Minister what their farming lives consisted of and about their fields and their crops and the source of income -- as a farmer is wont to do. The Chief Minister was also accompanied by others, such as Cabinet Ministers Atul Bora and Siddhartha Bhattacharya.

It may be mentioned here that according to Rice Knowledge Bank, Assam, rice is the single most important crop in Assam. It occupies 2.54 million ha of the gross cropped area of 4.16 million ha and contributes 96% of the total food grain production of the state. Assam is very well-recognized for its rich rice genetic diversity and the crop is grown in three seasons.