Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen has urged the agriculture officers to contribute in increasing agriculture production. He said that the efforts should be made now to ensure that the target of food grains production for year 2025 is met.
Bisen was addressing first national convention of Agriculture Graduates’ Association here on Sunday.
Bisen said that agriculture is axis of our country's growth. He said that for this we should provide new techniques along with alternative sources of income to farmers so that no calamity casts adverse impact on them.
He said that global warming is one of major challenges on which entire world is concerned. On Chief Minister's initiative, an important seminar has also been held on this issue.
He stressed the need to evolve a farming method conforming to changing climate so that farmers do not suffer. He exhorted to increase access to farmers. He said that contact and dialogue with farmers should be continuous so that they can move ahead in right direction.
Bisen referred to positive efforts made by the state government with regard to natural calamity suffered by farmers during year 2015. He said that 268 out of 368 tahasils were affected by natural calamity.
The State Government gave relief of `8000 crore to farmers including insurance claims. For this first time, a special session of Vidhan Sabha was held to discuss farmers' issues exclusively.
Provision of `6000 crore was made to provide temporary power connections. Process has been started to set up permanent soil testing labs in all development blocks. Food processing unit has been opened at Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University.