Kisan Kalyan held at Tura

SHILLONG, MAY 2: With the objective of creating awareness among farmers regarding the strategy to be adopted for Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is celebrating nationwide outreach programme Kisan Kalyan Karyashala under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan today in all the blocks across the country.

The Co-Chairman, State Planning Board, Government of Meghalaya and MLA Raksamgre Consituency, Benedic R Marak inaugurated the Kisan Kalyan Karyashalas at SMELC Conference Hall, Dakopgre Tura on Wednesday.

The programme was organised by Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture for the farmers of Dalu and Gambegre Community and Rural Development Blocks.

Addressing the gathering, Marak said that the people of the region depend mainly on agriculture for their living and therefore, urged all the farmers to avail various schemes and facilities provided by the government with the objective to synchronise higher gains for the farmers. Referring to the practises of one time paddy cultivation in a year by the people, he suggested them to introduce two time cultivation of paddy in a year in order to boost their income generation and thereby improve the condition of living of the people in the region.

Further, he also advise them to make judicious use of the land available and make farming a lucrative business by adopting integrated farming, scientific measures and use of modern technology with the help and  assistance from the concerned department .

Delivering the keynote address, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture, West Garo Hills Tura, L Laloo highlighted on the Seven Point Strategy advocated by the Prime Minister of India for achieving the target of Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022. He informed that the strategy includes Special focus on Irrigation with the aim of “Per Drop More Crop”, Provision of Quality Seeds and Nutrients based on soil health of each field, Large Investment in Warehousing and Cold Chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses, Promotion of value addition through Food Processing, Creation of National Farm Market, removing distortions and e-platform across 585 Stations, introduction of New Crop Insurance Scheme to mitigate risks at Affordable cost and Promotion of ancillary activities like poultry, beekeeping and fisheries.

Emphasizing on the need to increase sustainable farming in the area, he encouraged the farmers to adopt integrated farming and also to use locally available seeds in the region so as to regulate organic farming and ensure better productivity.

In the technical session, representatives from the line department comprising of Veterinary, Fishery, Horticulture and Agriculture highlighted on the Central and State level schemes under Agriculture and allied Sectors including Modern Agriculture Practises and Technologies for increasing Farm Production and Farm Income with success stories.

Farmer-Scientist interaction on Modern Agricultural Practices and Technologies for increasing Farm Production and Farm Income was delivered by A S Singh, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, Tura while video presentation on Modern Agriculture and Technologies were jointly delivered by A S Singh, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK and ATMA, West Garo Hills Tura.

Earlier during the inaugural function, the Chief Guest presented the Certificate and Awards to the Progressive Farmers identified from Dalu and Gambegre Community and Rural Development Blocks under West Garo Hills District.

District Agriculture Officer and Project Director, ATMA, West Garo Hills, Tura Martin D Shira, Deputy Project Director, ATMA Prodip Sangma, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics, CAU, College of Home Science, Tura Dr. Lakshmi Dhar Hatai, officers and staff of the department of Agriculture attended the day long programme. The theme song specially composed for the programme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare was played during the start of the function.

By Our Reporter