The State agriculture department has begun an outreach programme to encourage farmers of the State to cultivate seasonal vegetables, herbs and organic farming to make farming more profitable.
The State Government under an ambitious scheme of Birsa Gaon Yojana is going to promote community farming under which two to three villages forming a cluster in a district will be encouraged for community farming.
State Agriculture director Nisha Oraon Singhmarr said, “The State Agriculture department is going to promote community farming under which two, three villages forming a cluster will be encouraged for community farming. Selection of villages will be done on the basis of those villages which are most backward. Under the community farming, farmers will be asked to grow seasonal vegetables, herbs and even organic farming.”
Also under the scheme the government will provide seeds, tools and markets for selling agriculture produce. Singhmarr said, “Self help groups (SHG) comprising potential farmers having land holdings will be encouraged for community farming. Government will provide seeds, financial assistance for purchasing agriculture tools including tractors. The tools and tractors will be the asset of SHG.” Experts including agriculture scientists will guide and assist farmers for increasing agricultural yields.
As under the Birsa Gaon scheme focus is on growth of seasonal vegetables, herbs and organic crops, the government will ensure that farmers get maximum return of their agriculture yields and for this government will act as a link between farmers and markets cutting the roles of middlemen.
The Government in this connection will also contact markets at neighbouring States such as Bengal, Odisha for sale of vegetables. In between farm to markets, the biggest challenge of farmers and government is storage of perishable vegetables. The government under the Birsa Gaon scheme also plans to construct a cold room where perishable vegetables can be stored for ten to 15 days.
Also in between farm to markets, there will be grading and shooting of vegetables which is segregation of vegetables on size and quality.
Moreover, the Government has also decided to identify and develop these cluster villages for promotion of organic farming. The Government will work in mission mode to promote the production of organic farm products in the state. An organic corridor will also be developed in the state to help the farmers have access to markets for organic produce.
“The state has great potential in the organic produce market. We need to promote the production of organic products among the farmers in the state and the union government needs to work in tandem with the state government to aid the growth,” said Singhmarr.