The self-sufficiency of the farmers of the State is the priority of the State Government, said Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Co operative Minister, Badal on Sunday.
Addressing the Agriculture Fair cum Exhibition held at Latehar district headquarters, Badal said that the State Government has prepared an agricultural budget of Rs 4064 crore this year, so that a new dimension can be given to the development of farmers. The pace of development had slowed down due to the lockdown caused by the Corona infection, but the Government would work to enrich the 24 lakh farmers of the State in four years, he added.
The Agriculture Minister said that he would pay an additional fee of Re 1 on one liter of milk to the milk producers. "Small and poor farmers will be given one pair of oxen each. To provide milk to the students of Netarhat Vidyalaya, Rs One lakh will be given for the purchase of cows and one lakh rupees for the dress of the young people preparing to join Indian army," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Latehar MLA, Baidyanath Ram said that the State Government is working sensitively for the development of farmers so that their income could grow. "Many schemes are being launched and implemented for the development of farmers, so that farmers can become self-reliant," he added.
Ram also urged the Agriculture Minister to provide market for the crops, vegetables and other agricultural products produced by the farmers of the district. The MLA said that the agriculture fair will give a new dimension to the development of the district.
Deputy Commissioner Abu Imran said that the district administration is determined to take the benefits of the schemes run by the State Government to the last person. He said that more than 80 percent of the district's population is dependent on agriculture. He said that the schemes run by the State Government are being implemented to improve the lives of farmers.
All the guests inspected the stalls set up by various departments in the agricultural fair cum exhibition program. Earlier, the Agriculture Minister duly inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp. Laxman Yadav, Muneshwar Oraon, Arun Dubey, Sudama Prasad, Aftab Alam, Prabhat Kumar, Harishankar Yadav, Sajan Kumar, Rinku Kachhap, Arsene Tirkey, Manoj Paswan and many department officials and public representatives were present on the occasion.