Agriculture Minister’s Call to Farmers to take Advantage of Schemes

Special Correspondent

Silchar: In the 60’s Barak Valley, then undivided Cachar, particularly its Sonai region, was known for rich agricultural products. In fact, this southern zone of Assam also attained the distinction of being a granary as people depended entirely on locally produced rice due to bumper harvest of paddy. It could be possible because of the visionary agriculture minister of the time Moinul Haque Choudhuy who introduced a multiple package programme to help the farmers in all possible way. Agriculturists were immensely benefitted by the package.

Though the package programme is now a defunct chapter of Agriculture department, Sonowal government has introduced various schemes for development in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry. Banks are advancing subsidised loans to farmers who are only to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, as Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture and FP, Atul Bora said that he was surprised to see the lack of dynamic approach and enthusiasm among the farmers of this valley. He said this while inaugurating the new building of the district animal husbandry and veterinary department here on Thursday.

It was also a sort of indictment of the district Agriculture department for failing to motivate the famers to take advantage of the schemes initiated by the State government. The Minister failed to understand why the farmers cannot go for double and multiple cropping to grow and produce more. He did not mince to say that such apathy on the part of the farmers of the valley has pushed the once agriculturally enriched region to the backyard unlike other parts of Assam. But, Atul Bora, at the same time, stressed that schemes floated by his government can succeed only with the active coordination between the Agriculture department and farmers. Earlier, the Minister laid the foundation stone of soil testing, quality control and input testing laboratory for the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi here. Similarly, 21 such laboratories would be set up in different districts of the State. He distributed health cards to the beneficiaries on the occasion. He wanted the departments concerned to work in a coordinated way and at brisk pace in giving effect to the initiatives of his government in the lager interests of the farmers, a priority of both the Centre and the State. Also present with the Minister were former union minister Kabindra Purkayastha, Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, MP Dr Rajdeep Roy, MLAs and officials of the departments.

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