GUWAHATI, Dec 9 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that agriculture is the mainstay for economic growth of the State and asked the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) to take the lead in preparing a broad roadmap for agriculture-driven growth in the State.
Speaking at a brain-storming session on, �Agrarian Stress Mitigation for Higher Productivity, Profitability and Permanency in Assam� at the Assam Administrative Staff College here on Friday, Chief Minister Sonowal said a broad roadmap guided by the latest technology for agriculture and allied sectors would stimulate sustainable development in the State.
He asked the AAU Vice Chancellor Dr KM Buzarbaruah to take a proactive role in charting out a roadmap to help agriculture and its allied sectors to catalyse development of Assam.
Sonowal said, �Sixty per cent of the people of Assam are dependent on agriculture. If Assam has to shine, then agriculture has to be made sustainable to bolster development.� Referring to the success stories that Rajasthan and Gujarat have scripted in the field of agriculture in spite of their adversities, Sonowal said he does not see any reason why Assam cannot make steady progress in the field of agriculture.
Shedding light on the Chief Minister�s Samagra Gram Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) which was launched as a corollary of Vision 2022 set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double farm income, Sonowal said that as a part of CMSGUY, 10,119 tractors would be given to the self-help groups on December 10, to double farm income. He also informed that his Government had geared up for bringing about transformation in the agriculture sector, hence the system of innovation laboratory has been introduced to lend innovation, empowerment and skill development in the sector.
Reiterating his Government�s commitment to sensitise growth in agriculture, Sonowal said that to strengthen the marketing chain of agricultural produce, new markets are being explored in South East Asian countries taking advantage of the Act East Policy.
Elaborating on his Government�s ambitious plan to bring about agricultural revolution in the State, Sonowal clarified thus: �We want to grow without affecting our ecology�. He also informed that the State Government has set a target of planting 10 crore saplings per year to increase the green cover and facilitate supply of adequate oxygen.
He, however, cautioned that there is no shortcut to success, and to bring about tangible changes, everybody should work hard and lend their hand to weed out corruption at all levels. He also called upon the society at large to pay respect to the farmers and their vocation, as agriculture has the potential to propel growth of the State.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora while speaking on the occasion elaborated on different activities that his ministry has rolled out for agricultural development in the State.
The one-day brain storming session which was organised by the State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) witnessed the assembly of agricultural scientists, experts, Krishi Vigyan Kendra officials and progressive farmers, who interacted on different problems and prospects of the sector.
