IMPHAL, Dec 2 - �Rabi Campaign 2018� has been launched in Manipur on Sunday in a move to help the farmers to increase their productivity and achieve higher yield of crops during the Rabi season.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh accompanied by Agriculture Minister V Hangkhalian, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board S Rajen and others attended the launch programme in Imphal East district.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that a new policy for the welfare of the farmers would be announced soon and hoped that the Campaign would have a positive impact on the State economy.
Maintaining that the government, private agencies and farmers need to work together so as to increase the production of agricultural and allied products, he said he would personally monitor the initiative every week. The State Government is planning to provide 100 per cent subsidy to deserving farmers on loans and procurement of machineries.
It is the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double farmers� income by 2022. Such initiative would definitely boost the economy of the State and make the farmers self-reliant and self-sustained, he continued. Stating that 36 per cent of the State�s population are BPL families, he urged the government officials to work with transparency and sincerity so that these people are benefited from various Government schemes.
Minister for Agriculture V Hangkhanlian said that there are around 2.34 lakh hectare of cultivable land in the State. However, a large portion of the land remain unused during the off season, he added. Informing that the Agriculture department is working to double the farmers� income by 2022, he said we must find ways for optimising usage of such unused land.
