Guwahati, Feb 19: At a time when the national capital is still witnessing farmers protests, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, today distributed agricultural machineries to the Famers of the State during a ceremonial distribution programme organised by the Department of Agriculture of Assam in Guwahati, the machinery and equipment distribution was held under the Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY).
Atul Bora, Minister of Agriculture, Assam, Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MP, Rajya Sabha and other senior officials of the Agriculture Department of Assam attended the programme.
Speaking at the function, Tomar said that only Atmanirbhar villages can help to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to achieve the goal of making an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Asserting that to make the villages self-reliant it is important to focus on small farmers.
Tomar said that most of the farmers are small and marginal farmers in the country. They can earn profit only when attracted to valuable produce, connected to new technology and linked to the market. Considering this, the government has decided to make 10 thousand FPOs, on which Rs. 6,850 crores will be spent and this will be fruitful for the farmers of the country.
Speaking about doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the Union Minister said that the Central and state governments and the ICAR and farmers are working with full diligence towards achieving this goal, which will yield results.
To help the farmers to increase their income and for their progress, the government for the first time after independence, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package has announced an agriculture infrastructure fund of nearly Rs 1.50 lakh crore. This package is to ensure that the infrastructure reaches the villages and the farmers can take the benefit of this fund, the minister said.
He further mentioned that this government is committed to bring progress to the farmers of Assam and to bring inclusive development in the State which will make them able to contribute towards the goal of making an Atmanirbhar Bharat. He appealed the people and farmers to put their collective efforts to increase the agricultural production for their own and the country’s wellbeing.
