When Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was training his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the controversial land Acquisition Bill in the lok Sabha on Monday, Modi’s protégé and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel launched a counter-attack on those ‘elements’ who are terming the Bill as anti-farmer and said that the Modi Government is bringing the Bill with an intention of development in public interest.
While inaugurating 11th edition of Kirishi Mahotsav at Modasa, the district headquarter of Arvalli in North Gujarat, Patel said that the Opposition is wrongly targeting the NDA Government that the Bill is intended for snatching away farmer’s land. On the contrary, the land will be acquired for purpose of developmental of agriculture, education, roads and bridges, she said, adding that the Government will not acquire land of any farmer in Gujarat and the entire country forcibly.
The Chief Minister said that her Government will encourage organic farming in the State and shortly the Gujarat Government would come out with organic farming policy too. She appreciated efforts of those farmers who are already into organic farming.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was instrumental to initiate Krishi Mahotsav in the year 2004 when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister. Since then, every year a month long Agriculture Fair is being organised across the State to inform peasants of Gujarat about the latest technology and technique in farming to enhance productivity.
Anandiben attributed Gujarat’s double digit growth in agriculture to the Modi’s concept of Krishi Mahotsav. Agriculture income in the State was Rs26,746 crore in the year 2004-05, which increased to Rs1,34,141 crore today, she claimed. According to her, the network of Narmada canal would create instrumental for another ‘Green Revolution’ in Gujarat.
She also advocated to adopt scientific method in farming and urged farmers to use drip irrigation to take more yield using less water. “Gujarat Government’s initiative of ‘Krishi Mahotsav’ will change the rural economy and make farmers prosperous through agriculture and related activities,” she added.