Aurnachal govt asks farmers to see agriculture as an opportunity, not a challenge

Monday June 22, 2015 , 2 min Read

Despite hurdles of varied topography and climatic condition, agriculture is an opportunity rather than a challenge in Arunachal Pradesh, state agriculture and horticulture minister Chowna Mein said. “Our state is unique with tropical and subtropical, temperate and alpine zones which provide opportunity for cultivating agriculture and horticulture produces of different climatic zones, rare in rest of the country,” Mein said.

On the Centre’s policy intervention for productivity and market linkages, he said the state has huge available land resources and more thrust has been given to area expansion and implementation of agri-mechanisation programmes.

State’s crop production enhanced by 14 per cent in 2014-15 in comparison to 2011-12 besides hike in production of rice, cereals and pulses by 12.8 per cent during last three years. The National Food security Mission helped rice production to rise from 2060 kg per hectare in 2011-12 to 2240 kg per hectare in 2014-15, he said.

“This exemplary work had facilitated the state to win Krishi Karman Award for three consecutive years from the Centre,” he added. He said, under Centre’s Vision-2030, there is a proposal to set up mandis/auction centers in various zones to benefit the farmers. “Cold storages, collection centers, refrigerated vans are proposed while the department is actively working on construction of market sheds, way-side marketing amenities,” he said.

According to PTI, on promotion of self-employment for the youths, the state agriculture minister said that the progressive farmers (youths) are encouraged with assistance under special NEC schemes in horticulture sector to offer self- employment to make them self-reliant. On the initiative to check rampant rural to urban migration, Mein said that various government programmes and schemes would boost the rural economy better.

“Besides food security, my department also strives for economic uplift in rural areas. I am sure with increase in economic activities in agri-horti sector the migration from rural to urban will be checked,” he added. Besides encouraging and educating the population of the problems, efforts are on to offer alternate high yielding crops like large cardamom, orange, pineapple, ginger, oil palm cultivation to dissuade the farmers.

Stressing on research and development, he called for agro-based industries, particularly kiwi, apple and orange wines.

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