The Agriculture Science Centre located in insurgency-infested Dantewada district of Bastar has bagged the National Award for the 'Best Agriculture Science Centre' in the entire country, officials informed.
Chief Minister Raman Singh and Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Saturday congratulated the agriculture scientists and officers and employees of the Agriculture Science Centres of insurgency –infested Dantewada and also Kanker district for bagging the national-level prestigious awards.
Meanwhile, Kanker district’s Agriculture Science Centre has been awarded the ‘Atal National Agriculture Encouragement Award’. Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal met Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (IGAU) Vice-Chancellor Dr S K Patil and representatives of the two Agriculture Science Centres and informed them and congratulated the officials on this spectacular developments.
The Minister said that efforts put in by the authorities are bearing fruits in the form of awards. The farmers are benefitting with the research work done by IGAU scientists.
There is a craving for development in the region. All the districts in Bastar region will race ahead in agriculture in the years ahead.
Dantewada will become a role model in the entire country in the field of organic farming. Most of the farmers in Bastar area do traditional farming which is similar to organic farming, he said.
Scientists of Agriculture Science Centre in Dantewada said that farmers are being guided in community farming. The Agriculture Centre had provided immense contribution in the field of organic farming.
Apart from organic farming, the farmers are into setting up mushroom and 'Span' fish production units, and cultivating minor paddy crop.
Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh had handed over the award for Best Performing Agriculture Science Centre of Dantewada in New Delhi last week.
Kanker district’s Agriculture Science Centre has bagged the Atal National Agriculture Encouragement Award for adopting high-quality farming methods in paddy production and pulses besides oil seeds production.