Chhattisgarh Agriculture and Water Resource Minister Brijmohan Agrawal was felicitated by Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce and Industries in a programme held at Akola in Maharashtra on Thursday.
On the occasion, the Minister urged the entrepreneurs present in the programme to set up more Agro-based industries, as such industries create better employment opportunities.
Discussing the positive changes in Agro sector of Chhattisgarh, Agrawal said that the agricultural development schemes initiated by Chhattisgarh Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Raman Singh have started benefiting farmers.
‘Chhattisgarh Government is also promoting other agriculture-related employment activities such as fishery, animal husbandry, horticulture etc in rural areas of the State’, he said.
Thousands of families in rural areas of Chhattisgarh have adopted these activities to earn their livelihood, Agrawal said, adding, Chhattisgarh Government is providing interest free loans to farmers. He said that bonus of Rs 300 per quintal was distributed to farmers in year 2013-14 against paddy procurement.
Agrawal further said that the utilisation of water resources has increased the irrigated area in Chhattisgarh. ‘In year 2002 the irrigated area in Chhattisgarh was 24 per cent, which increased to 34.20 per cent in 2013,’ he said.
The State Government has also provided the facility of 24x7 electricity supply for irrigation pumps. In addition, the Chhattisgarh Government is providing free electricity supply of up to 7500 unit every year for agricultural pumps of 5 horse power (HP), the Minister said.
Moreover, several schemes have been initiated by State Government for development of farmers and agro-labourers. As a result, scenario of agriculture sector in Chhattisgarh is transforming rapidly, Agrawal said