The Agriculture & Sugarcane Development (ASD) department has upgraded its training facility at Itki to provide training to farmers and officers. The upgraded facility which includes- hostel for farmers, officers and vegetable seed processing unit, was inaugurated by Governor Syed Ahmed on May 22.
The Governor said country’s 40 per cent mineral is in Jharkhand but the State is primarily based on Agriculture and around 70 per cent of the population is on it for its livelihood hence every aspect related to development of farmer should be given importance.
The upgraded training facility can provide training to around 8,000 to 10,000 farmers and officers as against 2,000 in one year. Expressing his happiness over the facility the Ahmed said the department will provide training on technologies which highlight the importance of soil conservation and agriculture activities.
The training facility would provide training on soil conservation, watershed management, farm mechanisation and post harvest management. Around 20 per cent farm produce is lost due to poor post harvest management. Jharkhand receives annual rainfall of 1200 to 1400 mm but despite that farmers do not get adequate amount of water for irrigation, said Governor.
Irregular monsoon is the cause for the inadequate supply of water for irrigation hence water harvesting is extremely helpful for agriculture, added Ahmed. The Governor asked the farmers to awaken themselves to this and instructed the department to spread awareness on watershed. He emphasised on using latest technology to increase agricultural production and advocated training programme for the farmers on regular intervals. One unit of storage with capacity of 6000 MT & two storage of 1000 MT and two units of storage with a capacity of 100 MT will be established in every district and blocks respectively.
Ahmed said seed village is being established in every district for the benefit farmers and seed are being made available to the farmers through lAMPS & PACS. The Governor said, officials should ensure that the farmers get genuine seeds, fertilisers and pesticides on justified prices. Principal Secretary to Governor NN Sinha; Secretary ASD, Nitin Madan Kulkarni; Director Agriculture, KK Soan were among other dignitaries.