Ranchi (By our correspondent): Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das extended his invitation to the farmers of the state and asked them to become the brand ambassadors or the Global Agriculture and Food Summit slated in the state capital on November 29 and
30.
Addressing the agriculture conclave organized at the project building here he said that at the global level the main purpose of the summit was an all-round development of the farmers and the agriculture sector. He said that the summit will provide an opportunity to know about the new technicalities and working of the other states and cultures and the same can be implemented in the state.
Mr Das said that in the era of knowledge there was a need to build a state of knowledge only as it was the only means to take
the state, nation and society forward. He said that out of a sudden changes cannot be brought made and agriculture in itself was a social transformation and to help realize this change the farmers were sent to Israel so that they could learn methods of farming in less water presence and said that it was also important as agriculture was part of the economy and the culture.
Mr Das said that all have to make sure that agriculture sector goes forward and assured the farmers that the state government will be providing a market for their products and their products would soon reach the world level. He said that buoyed by the tremendous response of the farmers the state government has fully geared up to provide them with all help which was needed. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that with the changing times the state government was working to realize the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and similarly the dreams of making a digital Jharkhand needed to be fulfilled. He said that to equip the farmers with modern methods of agriculture the state government would be distributing mobile phones among 28 lakh farmers so that they do not fall trap of corrupt or middlemen.
The Chief Minister said that since due to less rainfall damage has been caused to the crops, therefore, directions have been issued to make an assessment of the losses and at present Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned from the disaster management fund for the
aid of farmers while on November 18 camps will be organized in all the district so that farmers can get advantage of the crop insurance scheme. He said that in future the government plans to do away with the process of crop insurance and instead form a trust
which would make payment.
The Chief Minister said that the farmers of the state have taken steps towards progressive farming and they should adopt organic farming and their products will be sold as the state government would provide them with markets and the correct price. He said that it was the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which hiked the MSP of the food grains by one and a half times. He said that in Jharkhand so far 3 lakh soil health cards have been also distributed. Mr Das said that 52 farmers who had gone to Israel have now become master trainers for 24 districts and now they should make the other farmers aware of the techniques and make joint efforts so that Jharkhand can make a name for themselves and asked the youth to not run after jobs but instead adopt agriculture as a sector.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Secretary Sudhir Tripathi said that there was a need to bring change in the thought process to make progress in the agriculture sector. He said that in the Global Summit the farmers will get to learn many things which they can use in Jharkhand and make them upgraded. Those who were also present on the occasion included Development CCommissionerD K Tiwari, Principal Secretary to CM Sunil Barnwal, Agriculture Secretary Pooja Singhal and others.
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