Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday met the members of the Task Force Committee constituted for formulating policies of agriculture and related issues of the State Planning Commission.
Singh said that there is a need for increasing the production of paddy, pulses and oilseeds.
The economic position of the farmers should be improved by encouraging them to adopt modern technology, he said
The Chief Minister assigned the task of linking farm production with market forces to the Committee members.
Singh said that 70 per cent farmers fall under the middle and low-income categories. The Task Force members should keep in mind the farmers' problems and progress before formulating any long-term policies.
The State Government provides short-term loans at 'zero' per cent interest to make farming attractive 7,000 units of free-power, sinking of tube-wells and high-quality fertilizers-seeds at reasonable rates. There is a lot of awareness among the farmers. The farmers are keen on increasing their standard of living and willing to adopt any new agricultural policy, he said.
Singh said that number of barrages had been built on rivers to divert water for agriculture and irrigation purposes. The water-table had increased dramatically in the surrounding areas. The farmers are keen on fish rearing. They are using electric-pumps to irrigate land for vegetables,fruits, pulses and oil seeds' production.
It may be mentioned here that the Task Force had been constituted for integrated development of agriculture and policy formulation under the leadership of renowned Natural Resources Economist Dinesh Marotia. Dr P.K. Joshi Director International Food Policy Research Institute New Delhi, Dr Vrijgopal, Co-ordinator South Asia Jaipur Water Resources, Dr Vishwavallabh Professor of S.l.R.I. Jamshedpur, Dr. V. P. Singh Senior Adviser International Agriculture Forest Institute South Asia New Delhi, Dr Sukhpal Senior Professor Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Dr Shailendra of Anand Gujarat, State Planning Commission member P.P. Soti and Agriculture Department Director P.R. Kudat were also present.