Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh has said that there are unlimited potentialities of agriculture in North Eastern states and Central Government is focusing on the development of agricultural sector in NE states. The Minister said that government is implementing a number of agriculture related programmes in this region while keeping in view the potentialities of organic farming along with different agriculture schemes in North Eastern States so that the people of villages may prosper. Shri Singh briefed the names of these projects as Mera Gaon, Mera Gaurav, Rashtriya Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card, and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, strengthening of Krishi Vigyan Kendras as well as extension of agricultural education.
Union Agriculture Minister said that organic farming is an integrated one. Through this bio diversity, bio cycling and soil bio activities are promoted. Organic farming creates environment friendly atmosphere for the crops as well as animals without the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, increasing antibiotics, stuff and synthetic pesticides.
Shri Singh briefed that there is no proper development of post harvest and residual management in this region resulting in adequate losses to the farming yield. It is imperative that technological facilities might be available near the production site for the development of post harvesting processing, value addition and production growth. This will not only ensure the security of farm yield but it will generate employment opportunities as well resulting in an enhancement in the income of the farmers.
The Minister further added that during 2014-15 the budget of agriculture education for North Eastern States was Rs. 150 crore which has been shot up by adding Rs. 20 crore amalgamated as a sum of Rs. 170 crore. He further said that during 2016-17 there has been an unprecedented enhancement of almost Rs. 500 crore (32.8%) for agricultural research budget which is now is Rs. 2020 crore. There is an addition of almost Rs. 90 crore (13.6%) as compared to the previous year in agriculture extension which has been gone up as a sum of Rs. 750 crore.
Union Agriculture Minister said that an Integrated Information Management System is being framed out for all agriculture universities and educational institutes of ICAR throughout the country. It will facilitate online information to the students related to the programmes of Universities, the activities, there of scholarship, their studies as well as curriculum. The national database of students will also be available for the students. This system will be examined first of all in the first phase for Central Agriculture University, Imphal and National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Thereafter, the information system concerned will also be linked with rest of the universities and educational institutes.
The Minister added that there are tremendous potentiality for beekeeping in North Eastern States. Therefore, National Bee Board and Ministry of Agriculture have decided to set up an Integrated Bee Keeping Development Centre (IBDC) in Central Agriculture University, Imphal, Manipur. With this, the Beekeeping sector will be developed in Manipur and the Bee Keeper farmers will be assisted in every way.
