GUWAHATI, March 6 � In an apparent venting of his dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Agriculture Department, Assembly Speaker Pranab Gogoi today said that he had suggested market linkage and doing away with the middlemen racket several years back but regrettably no action was taken over his suggestion.
The Speaker said this during a reply by Agriculture Minister Nilamani Sen Deka to a question by Rafikul Islam (AIUDF) on the implementation of various projects by the department. Islam alleged that most of the department�s schemes and projects remain only in paper.
Referring to the recent initiative by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) aimed at removing middle men by directly procuring the produce from the farmers, the Speaker urged the Minister to initiate urgent measures to do away with the nefarious racket of middle men so that both the consumers and the farmers got their dues.
Deka, in his reply, said that steps had already been taken to procure vegetables from the growers, which was being supplied to the Gorchuk market.
Expressing concern over the increasing use of chemical pesticides and bio-fertilizers in vegetables, the Minister said that a fertilizer policy was in the process of formulation, and this, together with the Pesticide Act, would go a long way in curbing the menace.
Deka said vegetable growers and sellers were even using phenyl on vegetables to make those look fresh. He also said the department was according special emphasis on hybrid seeds for enhancing production.
