Jharkhand government would organize Global Agriculture Summit on the pattern of Momentum Jharkhand Investors Summit, involving scientists, processing experts, innovators and agro-entrepreneurs from across the globe, announced Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Monday.
He was addressing the concluding session of three-day Agrotech 2018 Farmers’ Fair at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU). He said that 72 food processing plants were set up during last three years in Jharkhand, providing jobs to 2,350 youths. 55 such units were being established in the current year also, which would employ about 2500 persons.
The CM announced that all the villages of Jharkhand including those located in hills and dense forests would be connected by metalled roads by the end of 2019 and electrified by the end of 2018. He said that small water harvesting structures like dova, bora bandh, water tunnel and small check dams would be constructed in 32000 villages with active involvement of concerned villagers. Aadiwasi Vikas Smiti in villages with over 50 per cent tribal population and Gram Vikas Samiti in other villages will be constituted which would decide the location and number of such structures. Chairperson of all such village level committees will be women while secretary will be a village youth aged 18-35 years. The only role of engineers in this project will be to estimate preparation because farmers are no less than engineers.
The CM urged the BAU scientists to remain in constant touch with farmers for their technical upgradation and make concerted efforts for State’s self reliance on food grains front and doubling farmer’s income by 2022. He announced that Rs 90 crore budget for making the new five colleges of BAU functional had already been approved and fund would be provided for construction of a central auditorium on the campus.
Das also informed that the centre had agreed to provide Rs 600 crores to Jharkhand under Pradhan Mantri Sichai Yojna because irrigation scenario in the State was very poor as compared to other states. Every district of Jharkhand will get Rs 30 crore under this scheme.
The CM also released a booklet on linseed cultivation penned by Dr Sohan Ram and felicitated for innovative farmers – Sumant Kumar Singh (Simdega), Faiyajuddin Khan (Garhwa), Sudama Prasad Sahu (lohardaga) and Anil Kumar Yadav (Godda) for their exemplary contribution in farming.
Puja Singhal, Secretary, Dept of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Cooperation said the schemes of agriculture department would be implemented through only two agencies- the Birsa Agricultural University and Sakhi Mandals formed by Jharkhand State livelihood Promotion Society. No NGO or other organization would be involved as implementing partner. Rs 27 crore would be allotted to BAU during 2018-19 for establishment of animal breeding centre in all the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of BAU so that KVKs could function as mini university, she added.
BAU Vice Chancellor Dr Parvinder Kaushal requested the CM for financial support for new hostels, auditorium for 2000 seating capacity and boundary wall from all sides of BAU. Kanke MlA Dr Jitu Charan ram, Special Secretary Agriculture Subhra Verma and Director Agriculture Dr Rajeev Kumar were also present.