GUWAHATI, Sept 21 � The State Government is committed to improve agricultural productivity scenario and special initiatives will be taken by the Agriculture department in this regard.
This was stated by State Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma during a press conference here today.
�There are a few drawbacks including decrease of agricultural area that we need to work on by effectively implementing our plans and the department will leave no stone unturned to improve further,� she said.
She also informed that Assam has received the best performance award in the eastern region for successful implementation of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Rice, which was launched in the year 2007-08.
The award has been given to the State on the basis of an objective criteria adopted by the Government of India.
The NFSM has been implemented in 13 identified districts of the State including Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Darrang, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur and Tinsukia where the productivity of rice was below the State average.
The approach was to bridge the yield gap in respect of rice crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm management practices.
�Though we have bagged the award, we would not be content and instead we have set a yield target of 2,000 kg/hectare (rice) this year,� said Pramila Rani Brahma.
The minister went on to inform that the State has been included in the Green Revolution project and experts would be roped in soon to make a roadmap for making it successful.
Elaborating on the Rs 10-crore project taken up to boost production of potato and garlic, she informed that the department has decided to set up eight new cold storage facilities besides 12 godowns as per requirement.
Special initiatives, she said, were also being taken to boost growth of medicinal plants in the State.
