Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday launched Kisan Rath (Fruits & vegetables) Mobile App to facilitate the timely selling of agriculture products by promoting buyer-seller network.
The app was launched in a programme held at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati.
The app developed, designed and technically maintained by NIC, will be implemented on the ground by the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (APART) project, which will provide training to farmers and other stakeholders on using the app.
The app can be run in Assamese, Hindi and English.
Speaking on the occasion, the Assam CM said the app would be a new vehicle for boosting agri-business by opening up markets across the country for farmers of Assam to get maximum benefit for their produce.
He said the app would help farmers to emerge strongly in today’s competitive market and prove as a boon to growers of perishable fruits and vegetables as it would lead to radical reduction in wastage of their produce.
He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the time of assuming office has been working to double farmers’ income to give them a life of dignity.
The chief minister said the central government schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Fasal Bima Yojana, KCC, etc. have strengthened the agricultural ecosystem in the country and made agriculture a dignified calling.
He observed that the PM’s goal of doubling farmers’ income and initiatives in the farm sector inspired governments across the country to focus on agriculture.
Sonowal said Assam government has been implementing schemes like Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana and Krishi Sa-Sajuli Yojana etc. in a bid to make agriculture more productive and remunerative.
He also said the state government has been giving adequate stress on agriculture to realize the PM’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and urged the youth to take up farming to build a robust economy of the State.
Minister for agriculture, horticulture and food processing Atul Bora in his speech said during the Coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown, the farmers had to face severe hardship and incurred huge losses.
However, during the first 70 days of the lockdown, the farmers of Assam sold vegetables within Assam and outside worth Rs. 357 crore and more than 5,000 farmers directly engaged themselves as vendors which helped to emerge new farmers’ markets in the State.
The agriculture minister further said Kisan Rath App would eliminate the adverse role of middlemen creating new market opportunities for farmers and increasing their bargaining power.
He also said along with the implementation of central government schemes; the state agriculture department has launched many innovative schemes which promise to bring significant changes in the farm sector in the days to come.