The State government will give the status of agriculture to lac cultivation and also decide its Minimum Support Price. Chief Minister Hemant Soren made this announcement at the inauguration ceremony of the two-day Kisan Mela-cum-Agricultural Technology Exhibition held today at the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Namkum on Thursday. The CM said that it is the government's resolve to make farmers self-reliant.
“Many schemes are being run in this regard, through which grants, loans and other necessary facilities are being made available to the farmers. The government has recently waived the loans of farmers and introduced Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Yojana. The government will take all possible steps to ensure that the farmers get their right,” said the CM.
Soren said that the government is giving special emphasis to create new godowns and food processing units to protect and promote agriculture and agricultural products in Jharkhand. Around 500 new godowns and 224 food processing units are being built across the State.
The CM said that farmers are the backbone of the country. In such a situation, the State government is worried about the problems of the farmers. The government is preparing an action plan to increase the income of farmers. He said, “Today we are touching new heights of development but farmers are slowly being marginalized. It is a matter of great concern. The government is taking all necessary steps in the interest of farmers. The government has procured 30 per cent more paddy than the target this year,” he said.
“While mineral wealth is abundant in Jharkhand, this State also maintains a separate identity for its forest produce. But, its proper use, conservation, production and markets are not available, farmers are not getting the right price for its development. The government is trying to remove these problems by connecting more and more farmers with forest produce,” he said.
The CM said that there was a time when Jharkhand had a different identity in the country and the world for lac cultivation, but it started to decline gradually. “But, I can say with pride that lac cultivation is in the blood of the people of Jharkhand. The government is committed to add value to the forest produce, including lac, to get its old identity. In the field of lac cultivation, we are producing about 20 thousand tonnes of lac using only 15 per cent capacity. If its full capacity is used, then Jharkhand will be known in the country and the world with record production. In this, the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums has been playing an important role and will play it further,” he added.
The CM planted a safflower plant in the institute campus. During this time he saw the plants planted for lac production and received information related to lac production from agricultural scientists. Agricultural scientists told the CM that there are vast possibilities of lac production in Jharkhand. Farmers, especially women self-help groups, can be linked to this to make them self-reliant and self-reliant.
He visited various stalls set up at the Kisan Mela-cum-Agricultural Technology Exhibition and closely reviewed the activities and activities carried out by them. More than 60 stalls have been set up in this exhibition. These stalls have been set up by various non-governmental and private institutions.
On this occasion an MoU was signed between the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums and ICICI Foundation to promote lac cultivation. The CM released two publications in the programme. The farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs who performed better in lac cultivation were honoured.
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives Minister Badal, MLA Rajesh Kachhap, Deputy Commissioner, Senior Superintendent of Police, KK Sharma, Director of the Institute, Nirmal Kumar, Convenor of the program and other officials and large number of farmers were present on the occasion.