The Chhattisgarh Government is planning to establish a state-of-art centre for training fishermen in pisciculture in Bastar region, officials stated. The Centre would come up on 14 hectares of land in Bastar region. Notably, pisciculture is the principal form of aquaculture worldwide.
Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal during his tour of Bastar region for the lok Suraaj Campaign recently had also ordered officials to establish an Aquarium at Jagdalpur. A master plan has been drafted to provide intensive employment to the youth in the seven insurgency infested districts of Bastar Division.
The State Government is laying stress on horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries to make it viable financially to the deprived sections of the society. Stress is laid on developing irrigation facilities in Bastar region, officials stated. Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal toured the six districts during the 'lok Suraaj' campaign.
During his tour, he announced dedication of projects while laying foundation stones and performed 'Bhoomi pujan' of development works worth Rs225 crore. Agrawal called upon the farmers to go for animal husbandry, fish rearing, horticulture and other allied activities to augment their income.
He directed the district-level officers to test the soil and environment and guide the farmers in their related activities. Agrawal sanctioned opening of 40 Krishak information Seva Kendras at Jagdalpur , Kanker , Narayanpur, Dantewada, Kondagaon and Bijapur districts.
He distributed farm implements and material to several farmers on behalf of the Agriculture Department. Agrawal allotted Rs4.50 crore for Bakulwahi stop-dam, Cheribeda stop-dam and Benoor water reservoir. He also provided green signal to fruit and vegetables market and cold storage at Narayanpur.
Agrawal also sanctioned Rs14.84 crore for three irrigation schemes at Dantewada-Phoolpahad Water Reservoir, Dantewada diversion and Kundeli Scheme. He said there is a lot of demand for guavas in Andhra Pradesh. The Minister urged farmers to grow new species of guavas and earn a decent amount of money.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Raman Singh, Dantewada district will be developed as Organic farming region. The district will get an identity as Organic farming district in the coming years. A three-year Master plan is on the anvil.
He urged the livelihood College authorities to introduce dairy farming courses. Agrawal had also addressed a mammoth Kisan sammelan at village Masora in Kondagaon district.
He sanctioned irrigation schemes worth Rs12 crore in the region and also approved Rs one crore for the construction of vegetable market in Kondagaon district. While addressing the district-level officers' meet, he called upon them to encourage the farmers to adopt animal husbandry and boost their incomes.
Agrawal visited the Jhora Canal Structure site on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border in Jagdalpur district. The structures are being built on Indrawati river and Jhora Canal on Chhattisgarh and Orissa sides. He expressed disappointment over the delay in the construction of two hydraulic structures.
The Minister stressed upon the need to build green house on the agriculture and a lot of subsidy is given by the authorities. The green houses will increase production of vegetables and other farmers also will emulate in their regions.
He stressed upon the need improve species of animals and increase milk production. There is a lot of scope for ginger, turmeric, chillies, onion and coriander in the region. A Chilling plant should be installed and milk route should be prepared.
The Minister instructed the officers to develop a project so that there is adequate water available from Indrawati river all through the year and the beauty of Chitrakoot waterfalls remains intact. Agrawal sanctioned Rs16.90 crore worth of irrigation projects to Bijapur district.
He also sanctioned 31 projects worth Rs80.55 crore for South Bastar's Kanker district. The projects include minor and medium irrigation schemes.