Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday asked officials to use social messaging tools such as WhatsApp to educate farmers on new technologies available for cultivating crops.
The Chief Minister said that even the labourers working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) are using mobiles and smart phones.
There are about 90 lakh mobile phones users which are likely to shoot up in the times to come, the Chief Minister stated.
He was addressing the meeting of Permanent Working Groups on Agriculture and other allied activities development at the Police Officers' Mess Conference Hall here.
Singh said that Chhattisgarh can become a Model State in the field of agriculture and allied activities in the entire country in the near future. Different strategies should be adapted to suit different climatic conditions in the State, he said.
Singh added that modern appliances and technology like mobiles and smart phones can be properly utilized to update the farmers on modern farming methods. The messages should be sent in local dialects like Gondi, Halbi, Batri and Surgujahi so that maximum number of farmers are benefitted.
State Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson Sunil Kumar, Agriculture Production Director Ajay Singh and Task Force Chairman Professor Dinesh Marotia, Planning Commission member Padmasri Phoolbasan Yadav and a number of officers of various departments were also present.
The Chief Minister said that there are many Women's Self-Help Groups and they are playing a crucial role in implementing various programmes of the State Government.
The services of these groups can be utilised for spreading awareness regarding modern methods of agriculture, he said.
Singh said a master plan for growing 'litchis' and other fruits in Surguja region, minor forest produce and spices at Bastar region should be implemented. New farm strategies should be adopted at Raipur, Durg districts and Bhilai region also.
There should be some other plans in the seven districts where there is scanty rainfall, he said.
Singh added that tribal 'Mocho Badi' is highly successful at Dantewada and the organic products have ready market in various parts of the country.
Singh appreciated the efforts of Padmasri awardee Phoolbasan Yadav and women's self-help Groups in 'Swachch Bharat Mission' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Singh lauded the efforts of experts in agriculture in taking the newly-formed State to great heights in the farm sector.
State Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson Sunil Kumar said that the target is to double the income of farmers by 2022 in Chhattisgarh. The suggestions of farmers and experts are always valuable and invited to make farm sector more profitable.