The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd.) participated in the State Conclave on ‘Perspective Planning for Resurgent Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Arunachal Pradesh’ at Itanagar Friday .
The two-day conclave is being organized by the State Government in partnership with NABARD, with an objective to have in-depth and solution seeking dialogues for promotion of agriculture and allied sector.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that agriculture basically has five ingredients, which are soil, seed, irrigation, crop care and manure and these aspects need to be promoted for making sure that the crops grow well and farmers earn well.
Sharing his experiences from his district tours in the last seven months, the Governor emphasized on soil testing labs in the districts, zonal centre for seed procurement, storage and distribution, integration and fine tuning of irrigation schemes, loan availability for purchase of farming implements for crop care and organic farming.
The Governor stressed for attitudinal change of district level officers, who he said are the cutting edge in implementation of programmes and schemes in the district, circles and villages.
They have to take initiative and motivate farmers for experimenting new crops, cash crops, multiple cropping and agricultural entrepreneurship. The plans will have the desired result only if the officers at district and circle level develop the attitude of innovation, involvement, help, guidance and promotion of agricultural entrepreneurship schemes on ground, he pointed.
The Governor said that Central Government is focused on the development of the North East region under Look East and Act East policy.
Due to the favoured policy of the Central Government for the North east, the region is getting large number of aid and schemes. He underscored that it is upto the people of the States to utilize it transparently, accountability, judiciously with due audit, review and mid course correction.
This is up to the District administration to ensure that the benefits of the policies and programmes reach the common man in the villages.
The Governor released a book ‘Financing Agriculture Values Chains in India’ edited by Dr. Gyanendra Mani, Dr PK Joshi and MV Ashok on the occasion. He also opened the Demonstration Section (Exhibitions) of the two-day conclave.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, cabinet ministers, 15thFinance Commission member AK Lahiri, Chairman, NABARD, HK Banwala and Secretaries to Government of India including Secretary Agriculture S.K. Pattanayak, Secretary DoNER and Secretary Tourism Rashmi Verma, Chief Secretary Satya Gopal, IAS were present on the occasion and shared their views.
Large number of scientists, subject specialists, experts, representatives from agriculture and allied sectors, government officials and progressive farmers are attending the conclave.