GUWAHATI, July 17 - Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh today held a meeting at the Administrative Staff College here to review the development of agri-horticulture sector in Assam. The minister reviewed the activities of different sectors related to agriculture in the State.
Singh said the Central government is committed to accelerate cooperative development in Assam through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). In the last four years (2014-2018), the NCDC has sanctioned a total of Rs 55.46 crore for the State out of which Rs 11.06 crore has already been released, the minister said.
The minister was informed in the meeting that the production of fish and fish seeds in the State has increased by 10.06 per cent and 43.79 per cent respectively in the last two years. Compared to 576,000-ton fish production in 2014-2016, the State has produced 634,000 tons of fish in the years 2016-2018.
In case of fish seeds, the State produced 14,738 million fries in the years 2016-2018, which is 43.79 per cent higher than the previous two years. The minister was also informed that the production of milk increased by 3.6 per cent in 2016-2018 compared to previous two years.
Reviewing all the sectors of agri-horticulture, the minister said the funds that have been released should be utilized properly and on time. He also emphasized on the need for publicity of the schemes and to take these to the farmers. Reviewing the fishery sector in the State, Singh emphasized that the government market also needs to be expanded.
The minister said the goal of the Central government to double the farmer�s income will be achieved and overall prosperity will be realised in the State. Supplementing the Central government efforts, the State government has come up with an integrated cooperative development project, he said.
The project cost is of about Rs 6,000 crore, under which all the potential sectors such as agriculture, organic farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, storage and cold storage, processing of agricultural products, etc., are to be included, Singh added.
