Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, at a review meeting of the department held here on Friday, told the officers in clear words that all the schemes of the department have been implemented for betterment of farmers and farm labourers.
Complete attention of officers should be on giving the benefits of the schemes to the intended class in a proper manner. He instructed them to work with new thought and innovation to make the farmers and farm workers prosperous. Agrawal said that 76 per cent population of the state is associated with cultivation and related job and business. Enthusiastic changes have come in the agriculture schemes with the increase of irrigation areas and new techniques in cultivation. Departmental officers should correct their working system according to the changes, he said.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Ajay Singh, Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University Dr SK Patil, Kamdhenu University Vice Chancellor Dr US Mishra, Managing Director of MARKFED SK Jaiswal, Secretary, Agriculture Devendra Singh, director agriculture PR Kridutt, Director Horticulture Bhuvanesh Yadav, Director, Veterinary Dr SK Pandey, Indira Gandhi Agriculture University Registrar KC Paikra officers of departments concerned were present at the review meeting.
Agri-based industries will be promoted
The Agriculture Minister instructed the officers to prepare effective work plan to direct marginal farmers towards poultry, fisheries, vegetable production, and horticulture, besides cultivation. He said that the department should make policy to make non-arable land arable. He instructed to include establishment of agri-based village industries in the agriculture policy of the State.
Fertilizer storage in cooperative societies
While reviewing the fertilizer distribution to the farmers, the minister said that in future fertilizer supply arrangement from double lock to single lock should be stopped. Now, fertilizers should be sent directly to cooperative societies, so that farmers could get it in time. He asked the officers to issue orders in this regard immediately.
Crop insurance scheme for irrigation areas also
The Agriculture Minister, while collecting information on paddy production in the last kharif season, said to implement crop insurance scheme in irrigation areas also from next year. While instructing the officers to take measures to increase the rabi crop area in the state, he said that in future the rabi crop areas should be increased to 30 lakh hectares. In the rabi crops, cash crops should be promoted. Survey of the real irrigated areas should be conducted by some independent agency, he added.
Work plan for bio-farming in 5,000 acres
The Minister asked to prepare work plan for bio-farming in 5,000 acre in the state this year. later, necessary preparations should be made for increasing the bio-farming area up to 25,000 acres in the next two-three years.
Provision for compensation for damaged seeds
The Agriculture Minister said to make provision for compensation to farmers, if the seeds supplied by the government were damaged. Officers of the Seeds Corporation were instructed to prepare proposal for it.