Hazarika reviews agriculture, irrigation schemes in Diphu

In his maiden visit as Guardian Minister of Karbi Anglong, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Pijush Hazarika today chaired a comprehensive review meeting at Taralangso. The meeting was attended by KAAC Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, local MLAs, and Executive Members to assess the implementation of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and other key departmental schemes.

 Urging local agri-preneurs to leverage the AIF scheme-which offers loans up to `2 crore with a 3 per cent interest subvention-Minister Hazarika highlighted major state initiatives. Under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s flagship initiative, the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Excellence Award will honour 1,000 progressive farmers with `1 lakh each this year, targeting 10,000 farmers over five years.

To expand PM-KISAN coverage beyond the current 18.6 lakh beneficiaries (with ~35,000 in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong), the state is registering nearly 6,000 farmers daily, with local authorities instructed to resolve land ownership issues promptly ahead of a high-level meeting in Guwahati on August 24. 

Additionally, he emphasised oil palm cultivation, pineapple processing, and the department’s target to distribute 5 crore saplings annually (25 crore over 5 years), including areca nut, cocoa, coconut, and makhana seeds.