The three-day Agrotech Kisan Mela organized on the theme of increasing income through agricultural modernization at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) ended on Sunday. More than one lakh people including about 50,000 farmers from different districts of the State participated in the mela.
Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato was the chief guest of the closing ceremony. On the occasion he said that there is a need to strengthen the market system to ensure fair prices for the produce of the farmers. “There should also be a proper arrangement for the preservation of perishable agricultural products so that in case of excess production, farmers are not forced to sell their products at throwaway prices,” he added. He said that hardworking farmers like Jharkhand are very few in the world, their lifestyle and food habits are also very simple, yet their economic progress is not happening.
“There is a need to think seriously and make efforts on how to improve the economic condition of the food provider farmers and how to make life happy with the techniques of Agricultural University and Research Institutes. BAU should try to come in the category of top agricultural universities of the Country,” said Mahto.
Kanke MLA Samri Lal said that millets like Madua, Gundli, Kodo have been cultivated and practiced in Jharkhand for centuries. It is fortunate that now the whole world understands the importance of millets. It will increase the identity of Jharkhand, he added.
BAU Vice-Chancellor Omkar Nath Singh said in his presidential speech that 40 delicious dishes prepared from nutritious grains (millets) have been displayed in Yamela, which are also being sold so that the popularity of such grains can increase among the common people. He said that various types of agricultural machinery, drone technology, hydroponic farming, forestry, different types of dairy and fish products, animal production, management and health care techniques, forestry, meteorology, soil and water management, crop improvement, Management and protection techniques, biotechnology, processed products of horticulture crops and others have been displayed.
Director of Extension Education, Dr Jagarnath Oraon proposed the vote of thanks. The program was coordinated by Shashi Singh. On this occasion, the Speaker honored 4 farmers - Virendra Oraon, Lalan Sharma, Rajesh Baraik, Shambhu Kumar and Managing Director of a Farmer Producer Organization Rajendra Mahto for their special contribution in the field of agriculture.
About 2000 entries were registered in the horticulture exhibition by farmers, entrepreneurs, institutions and flower-ornamental plant enthusiasts from different districts of the State. Naresh Kumar Mahato of Dhanbad got the first position by getting a total of 15 prizes. He got most of the awards in the category of flowers. Shambhu Kumar of Bajra, Itki Road, Ranchi got the overall second position. Most of their entries were in the form of ornamental plants. Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, located in Kanke, got the third position. The institute had a special collection in the field of flowers.
Ram Kumar Sahu of Hochar village got maximum prize in vegetables while Anant Lal Mahto got maximum six prizes for processed and preserved products of horticulture crops. Sido Kanhu Park and Nakshatra Forest Management were also awarded for their horticulture model.
In the sub-thematic pandal, the jury awarded first prize to Integrated Farming System, second prize to Absorbent Cereals (Millets) and third prize to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Animal Health Management.
Among Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Regional Research Centers, KVK East Singhbhum was awarded first prize, RK Mission Divyayan KVK, Ranchi and KVK Gumla second and Regional Research Center Chianki third.