A Central Government team of the Ministry of Agriculture lavished praise on Chhattisgarh Government for the development in agriculture sector in the State in the past one decade.
The team reviewed the steps being taken by the State Government for the development of agriculture in the state.It also took stock of the preparation the agriculture department of the State Government has made for the 2014 Kharif season.Praising the State Government for the development of agriculture in the last ten years, the additional secretary of the Union ministry of agriculture, Vinod Srivastava, said it was possible because of the successful implementation of the Central and State Government schemes.
He said that Chhattisgarh has managed to create a national identity for its paddy output. He urged the officials to launch special programme to increase the output of pulses and oilseeds in the State.Srivastava also highlighted the need of appropriate market for sale of agricultural products. The meeting also discussed on the status of agriculture in Maoist-affected areas. After the discussion, the officials decided that they will specially plan for the Maoist-hit region.
The officials also discussed the implementation of different Central Government programmes and the problems they are facing while implementing them in the State.The state agriculture officials urged the Central officials to bring uniformity in different subsidies offered and asked them to take up necessary steps urgently.Srivastava advised the State officials to prepare special plans for the development of agriculture in the nine new districts created in the State two years ago and send them to the Central government for approval.
He said the area for cultivation of pulses and oilseeds must increase in the state. Every year, cultivation of pulses and oil-seeds must be undertaken in one lakh hectares of area.Additional Chief Secretary of the State’s agriculture department, Ajay Singh, through computer graphics provided information on the preparation of the Government on 2004 Kharif crops.He said the State Government has made elaborate preparation for the Kharif season. Adequate arrangements have been made for the storage of seeds and fertilisers.
He stated the Government has set a target to double the agricultural productivity in the state in 2014 Kharif season. Steps have been taken to provide seeds to the farmers at appropriate time, he said.Besides, the Government has decided to make effort to increase the cropped area for cultivation of Soybean.Although the agricultural growth in the State was targeted at 1.7 per cent in the 11th five-year plan from 2006-2007 to 2012-2013, the State achieved a growth rate of 6.3 per cent during the period, the additional chief secretary said.
Similarly, the food production in the State saw an increase of 29 per cent during the period while the national growth rate remained 18 per cent, he said.