Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Krishna Raj on Tuesday said Mizoram has great potential to become an organic state.
Raj is on an official tour of Mizoram and arrived in Aizawl on Monday.
Interacting with media in Aizawl on Tuesday, the Union Minister said that Mizoram has the potential to expand itself in agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors.
She also disclosed that the Central Government has recently approved 111 projects, including two animal ambulances for Mizoram under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), to give a boost to the agriculture and its allied sectors in the State.
The project cost was Rs 11.87 crore, which would be met through a funding pattern of 90:10, she added.
She also said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government at the Centre is giving utmost attention to development in the Northeast and that Modi has instructed all the north-eastern states to give emphasis on the Act East Policy for the socio-economic development of the region.
She said the Centre was giving priority to the development of the farmers and a massive effort is being taken to increase their income.
The Union Agriculture Minister further disclosed that she will shortly be calling a meeting of all agriculture ministers of the north-eastern states to consider the Centre’s policy to improve the condition of oil palm growers and thereby augment their income.
Raj also asked the Mizoram government to apply for the project to increase farmers’ income as Mizoram has huge untapped potential in fisheries and aquaculture, which can contribute considerably to improve the livelihood of the farmers.
State Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who accompanied Raj, exuded confidence that the Minister’s visit will usher in development to the field of agriculture and horticulture in the State.