Government to operationalise Mega Food Park in Tihu: CM Sonowal

Nalbari: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the State government is in touch with Union Ministry of Food Processing for making the mega food park at Nath Kuchi operational at Tihu in Nalbari district.

Inaugurating the renovated Natya Mandir at Nalbari today, Chief Minister Sonowal said that he had a detailed discussion with the Union Minister of State for Food Processing RameswarTelito make the Food Park at Nathkuchi operational very shortly and a blueprint is being prepared for the same. He also said that Assam has a lot of possibilities for food processing industry given the fact that Assam produces a lot of foodstuffs. He also said that with value addition to the fruits and vegetables produced, Assam can capture the world market. In this context, the food park in Nathkuchi holds tremendous importance.

Chief Minister Sonowal said that Nalbari district is the epicenter of people blessed with tremendous mental calibre. The people of Nalbari district constitute a major chunk of human resources of the state and therefore, the district has to lead intellectual development of the state. He also said that the renovated and modernized Natya Mandir inaugurated in Nalbari would help the people of Nalbari to pursue their intellectual stimulation and take the district altogether to a different height. He at the same time paid tribute to Dr.IndreswarBorthakur who was instrumental in establishing Natya Mandir at Nalbari way back in 1926.

Chief Minister Sonowal also said that considering the huge repository of human resources in Nalbari district, State government has decided to expand the area of State Capital Region up to Tihu so that youth of the district can be engaged into rightful vocations. Moreover, the government has also earmarked both sides of the national highways as an industrial corridor to give a boost to industrialization in districts adjoining Guwahati.

Chief Minister also said that empowerment of farmers in the state is of the paramount importance of the government and therefore, his government adopted Chief Minister SamagryaGrammyaUnnayan Yojana for doubling the farmer's income in the state by 2022. He also said that if the 27 lakh farmers’ family can contribute to the GDP of the state, Assam will become a major contributor to Government of India’s projection of making Indian economy five trillion dollars by 2024.

Chief Minister also said that the young generation agriculturalists need to bring about a paradigm shift in the agricultural practices by introducing science and technology into it. He also said that through Act East Policy, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has helped to expand the parameter of the market of North Eastern Region and he asked the youth of the state to empower themselves to capture the market of 80 crore people presented by the ASEAN countries and North Eastern region.

Sonowal also said that PM KisanMaanDhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri FasalBima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana have rendered positive changes in the farming sector of the state. He said that the Central Jal Shakti department is all set to invest Rs. 248 crore for shallow tube well for irrigating 20 thousand hectare land in the state and once it is done Assam will become the first state to receive such a scheme in the country.

MP DilipSaikia, MLA Ashok Sharma, Chairman Assam Tourism Development Corporation Jayanta Malla Baruah also spoke on the occasion.

On the sidelines of the programme various organizations handed over cheques as contributions to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

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