Gujarat’s first woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday declared financial year 2014-15 as ‘Agriculture Development Year’. Patel, a daughter of a farmer, said the idea was to give a boost to Gujarat’s ‘Green Revolution’ and special focus would be given to economic growth of women associated with agriculture-related activities.
The Chief Minister made the announcement at a function of women farmers in presence of nearly 4,000 female peasants. She said that the process of agriculture development initiated in 2005 with a unique concept ‘Agriculture Fair’ (Krishi Mela) given by then Gujarat CM and now PM Narendra Modi. Since then, Gujarat constantly progressing in the sector, said Anandiben adding that the State Government’s decision to celebrate ‘Agriculture Development Year’ will give momentum to the process.
While admiring contribution of women in agriculture, especially in animal husbandry, Patel said that the State Government is not only aiming at improving their financial position but will also ensure that not a single child should become victim of malnutrition.
Throughout the year, seminars, workshops, exhibitions and other agriculture-related activities will be organised by the State Government to create awareness among the farmers on modern farming. “They (farmers) would be acquainted with new technology. Agriculture scientists will visit to farms and interact with the farming community across the State during the year,” said a senior Agriculture Department official.
Meanwhile, State Agriculture Minister Babubhai Bokhiria said that as a result of agriculture development in Gujarat, villages have become prosperous and ultimately the State developed. The Government provided adequate water and electricity to farmers which made agriculture sector strong which reflected into agriculture production. Gujarat’s agriculture production increased from Rs14,000 crore to Rs1.11 lakh crore in the past one decade, claimed Bokhiria. Initiatives like agriculture fair have become bridge between the Government and the farmers, he added.