An Agro Mall will be developed at Raipur Agriculture Produce Market soon. This was informed in a meeting of Chhattisgarh State Agriculture Marketing Board presided over by Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Thursday. The meeting decided to allocate 15 per cent of the funds collected at mandis for the welfare activities of farmers and ten per cent for the protection of cows in villages. Several proposals were approved at the meeting. It was decided that the premises of 50 large mandis will be re-constructed.
Agrawal ordered for constructing godowns with a storage capacity of 10 lakh tonne at the large mandis. The design of godowns should be such that foodgrains are protected. The members of the Board have decided to release Rs10 crore for the construction of ‘Goshalas’ in all development blocks. The proposal to give loans to the officers-employees of Mandi boards and Agriculture Mandi Samitis for the construction of buildings and plots was approved.
It was decided to give loans to farmers at reasonable rates and purchase farmers’ produce at fair price. The Mandi Board approved the proposal to allot Rs10 crore for the proposed co-operative sugar mill at village Pandaria in Kabhirdam district. Agrawal said that the land in the name of Agriculture Produce Mandis should be transferred to Mandi Board as soon as possible. The development works of Agriculture Department, Animal Husbandry and Pisciculture Department should be speeded up. There was a detailed discussion on the progress of the establishment of Seed Certification laboratory at Bilaspur, Ambikapur and Jagdalpur.
The Minister ordered for laying of roads from the market premises to the connecting main roads. The computerisation of mandis also should be hastened. Agrawal said that Mandi boards should work for the welfare of farmers. There should be a systematic development of the Market premises. The developed vegetable market at village Tulsi was also appreciated.
It may be recalled that Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had informed in the Chhattisgarh Assembly that total irrigated area at the time of formation of the State was 13.28 lakh hectares which has been increased to 19.29 lakh hectares. Similarly the irrigation capacity which was 23 percent in the year 2000 has been enhanced to 34.66 percent.
It has been planned to increase the area under irrigation by 5 lakh hectares in the State during the next five years, said Agrawal while replying to a debate on demand grants related to Agriculture Department for the financial year 2015-16. Agrawal said that the State Government has prepared a comprehensive plan to increase the irrigation capacity of the State equal to the national irrigation average of 43 percent in coming years.
He said that priority will be set for providing water for irrigation of Kharif crops along with the Rabi crops in future irrigation schemes. After discussions the demands grants were passed by voice votes in the House which included Rs8751168000 for Water Resources Department, Rs397314000 for Ayacut Department, Rs5519590000 for Minor irrigation construction works, Rs4015000000 for projects related to water recourses department aided by NABARD. The Minister said that to increase the area under irrigation in the State the incomplete irrigation schemes will be completed on priority. For ground water conservation minor irrigation as many as 410 Anicuts have been constructed while construction of 325 Anicuts is underway.
He said that a scheme has been prepared to increase the area under irrigation with help of micro-irrigation scheme. To increase the irrigation capacity, 3 major projects, 6 medium and 393 minor irrigation schemes have been completed in 11 years. In the year 2015-16 a target has been set to increase the irrigation capacity in Kharif season to 14 lakh hectares, said Agrawal.
A scheme has been prepared to upgrade the stop dam and check dam with capacity greater more than 40 hectares. To complete the incomplete schemes, permission will be given for purchase of land through mutual consent. A new Water Resource Act will be prepared to increase the area under irrigation. A committee will be constituted for collection of revenue from the industries, he said. Agrawal said that a target of completing 317 minor irrigation schemes has been set in the coming financial year and this will increase the irrigation capacity in 70000 hectares.
Agarwal informed that approval has been received from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for the Arpa-Bhaisajhar project. With completion of this project, the irrigation capacity will be increased by 25000 hectares. The construction of canal under Kelo project will be completed within a year. This will facilitate irrigation of 22110 hectares in 175 villages of Raigarh and Janjgir-Champa districts.