Ranchi (By our correspondent): Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu said that Jharkhand is an agricultural state with more than 70 percent of the population living in villages and agriculture is the main means of their livelihood and also has a significant stake in Jharkhand’s economy. Addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day Global Agriculture and Food Summit 2018 held at Khelgaon,
Ranchi the Governor said that agriculture is dependent on rain, but it has been observed that despite good rainfall, farmers can not utilize rainwater for irrigation purposes as due to the plateau terrain, the water flows rapidly. She said that due to the shortage of irrigation, one-crop cultivation is done in most agricultural lands and focus should be more on multi-crop cultivation.
The Governor said that farmers should put more emphasis on water harvesting so that they become self-reliant however to achieve this the agricultural scientists and people associated with this have to work diligently. “The concept of ‘Lab to Land’ will be completely successful only if the people associated go to the field and give information to the farmers. Our country will not prosper till our villages are fully developed,” she said.
Ms. Murmu said that the land of Jharkhand state is good with regard to vegetable yields, forestry, and horticulture and if the farmers cultivate all these, they can have a good income. It is a matter of happiness that the state has received several agricultural awards for a good yield of pulses and pointed out that there is also a lot of potential for organic farming in Jharkhand. She said that vegetables, fruits, and spices are also made organically and there is a lot of potential for cashew processing, processing of medicinal plants,
honey production, meat, eggs, and milk products. She said that Jharkhand has made progress in the field of fish production. and
there are immense possibilities in the area of poultry etc.
Governor said that at present the Food Processing Sector is an emerging area and it is seen as an important area in view of the possibility of contributing to the state’s economy. The availability of raw materials, tomato, potatoes, maize, cashew nuts, peas, oilseeds, pulses etc, lifestyle changes and incentives in the field of government’s agriculture and food processing are playing a broad role in the development and promotion of this industry in Jharkhand, she said.
Ms. Murmu said that the farmers of Jharkhand are hardworking and progressive and the state has diverse climatic conditions, which is
suitable for the agriculture of a wide range of crops. Fertile soil, abundant water, favourable climate and low cost labour provide favourable conditions for establishing food processing industry in the state she said adding that In Eastern India, the name of Jharkhand as the ideal state in the field of agriculture should be established, as well as it should be the aim to fulfill the demand of
food products for a large population of the country.
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