GUWAHATI, June 26 � Assam Governor JB Patnaik is of the view that the state should adopt an agriculture policy resolution to treat agriculture as an industry. He is also planning to meet the Union Agriculture Minister soon to discuss in detail launching of operation flood in Assam to increase milk production.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Governor pointed out that development of agriculture sector is the only way to make Assam a prosperous state, which could become the envy of the rest of the country. He said that treating of agriculture as an industry and extending facilities given to the industries to the farmers would go a long way in increasing production.
There are so many Himalayan rivers flowing through Assam, but the water resources are scarcely used for agriculture and efforts should be made for utilizing the water resources for development of the agriculture and allied sectors. The Government can also provide bore wells to the small and marginal farmers. Development of agriculture sector will not only make Assam a prosperous state, but would also provide employment opportunities to the youths of the rural areas. This will also stop youths from rural areas from migrating to the urban areas in search of jobs as if they are assured of good income in their own surroundings, they would not have to flock to the urban areas, the Governor said.
Patnaik said that since 1997, the country witnessed two phases of dairy revolution called operation floods. The operations were meant to make every state self sufficient in milk production. Under the scheme, cows were provided to the farmers at subsidized rates, to produce quality cattle feed in all places, collection of milk from the doorsteps of the farmers at reasonable prices and preservation of the milk in the chilling plants. The idea was not only to ensure reasonable prices to the farmers but also to ensure that every citizen gets their share of quality milk. But unfortunately, Assam did not see the benefits of the two phases of operation flood and it is high time, such a project is launched in the state in large scale, he said. He said that he would soon meet the Union Agriculture Minister to discuss the issue.
The Governor said that Assam must launch efforts to double rice production within the next five years and suggested that organic method of farming should be started in large scale as was done by the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Assam needs to have total self reliance in rice production and the aim should be to have enough rice to spare for the national food stock reserve, he added. Assam is already in advantageous position because of its rich soil and water resources and efforts should be made to adopt new methods of farming and scientific tools to increase production.
It is unfortunate that despite having abundance of water resources, Assam has to import fish from other parts of the state, said the Governor and suggested that young men from the rural areas should be encouraged to go for scientific fish farming by giving them subsidies. Every village should have a fish pond to increase production, he added.
GUWAHATI, June 26 � Assam Governor JB Patnaik is of the view that the state should adopt an agriculture policy resolution to treat agriculture as an industry. He is also planning to meet the Union Agriculture Minister soon to discuss in detail launching of operation flood in Assam to increase milk production.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Governor pointed out that development of agriculture sector is the only way to make Assam a prosperous state, which could become the envy of the rest of the country. He said that treating of agriculture as an industry and extending facilities given to the industries to the farmers would go a long way in increasing production.
There are so many Himalayan rivers flowing through Assam, but the water resources are scarcely used for agriculture and efforts should be made for utilizing the water resources for development of the agriculture and allied sectors. The Government can also provide bore wells to the small and marginal farmers. Development of agriculture sector will not only make Assam a prosperous state, but would also provide employment opportunities to the youths of the rural areas. This will also stop youths from rural areas from migrating to the urban areas in search of jobs as if they are assured of good income in their own surroundings, they would not have to flock to the urban areas, the Governor said.
Patnaik said that since 1997, the country witnessed two phases of dairy revolution called operation floods. The operations were meant to make every state self sufficient in milk production. Under the scheme, cows were provided to the farmers at subsidized rates, to produce quality cattle feed in all places, collection of milk from the doorsteps of the farmers at reasonable prices and preservation of the milk in the chilling plants. The idea was not only to ensure reasonable prices to the farmers but also to ensure that every citizen gets their share of quality milk. But unfortunately, Assam did not see the benefits of the two phases of operation flood and it is high time, such a project is launched in the state in large scale, he said. He said that he would soon meet the Union Agriculture Minister to discuss the issue.
The Governor said that Assam must launch efforts to double rice production within the next five years and suggested that organic method of farming should be started in large scale as was done by the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Assam needs to have total self reliance in rice production and the aim should be to have enough rice to spare for the national food stock reserve, he added. Assam is already in advantageous position because of its rich soil and water resources and efforts should be made to adopt new methods of farming and scientific tools to increase production.
It is unfortunate that despite having abundance of water resources, Assam has to import fish from other parts of the state, said the Governor and suggested that young men from the rural areas should be encouraged to go for scientific fish farming by giving them subsidies. Every village should have a fish pond to increase production, he added.
