Farmer awarded
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal felicitating progressive farmers who visited Vietnam as part of the Government's initiative and other model farmers of Golaghat district at Krishak Samaroh at Golaghat on July 14, 2018. UB Photos

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said the State Government has taken firm steps to double the income of the farmers by 2022.

“As the holistic development of the society is not possible without the development of the farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented a lot of schemes for the welfare of those engaged in agriculture,” said Sonowal while taking part as the Chief Guest at the Krishak Samaroh organised by Mega Mission Society – Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnyan Yojna (CMSGUY) and Agriculture Department at Chinatoli High School playground at Chinatoli in Golaghat.

Thanking Prime Minister Modi for the decision to hike the minimum support price (MSP) of Kharif crops ensuring 50 pc return to the farmers on input costs, Sonowal highlighted the Central Government schemes like Jan Dhan Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Yojna, Krishi Sinchai Yojna, etc. as the indicator of the Government’s commitment towards the farmers.

He also stated that CMSGUY with a budget outlay of Rs 30,000 crore is the State Government’s strong move to transform the rural economy.

Urging the farmers of the State to stay away from rampant usage of pesticides and insecticides, Sonowal called on them to engage in organic cultivation for taking advantage of the fertile land of the state.  Underlining the multipurpose functionality of CMSGUY as it envisages socio-economic development of the rural agriculture based population, the Chief Minister said that in the coming days 5 lakh farmers would be given Rs 5,000 each for purchasing agricultural equipments.

Also under CMSGUY, a knowledge centre would be set up in each of the 26,000 villages of the State for the benefit of the young generation and 500 rural playgrounds would be developed.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said that that 8000 power tillers have already been distributed to the farmers of the state and one lakh shallow pump would also be distributed for bolstering irrigation facilities of the farmers.

Highlighting the different steps of the State Government for the development of agriculture sector of the State, Bora informed that 13 lakh soil health cards have been issued so far in the state and ‘pothar porichalana samitees’ in the State would also be reconstituted for making them more active.

In Saturday’s programme, Chief Minister Sonowal distributed tractors under CMSGUY to 13 farmer groups of Golaghat and felicitated 31 progressive farmers of the district. A total of 195 farmers’ groups of the district would receive tractors under the scheme. He also ceremonially presented soil health cards to ten beneficiaries along with distributing ten power tillers.

Water Resource Minister Keshab Mahanta, Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary also spoke in the programme where Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia gave the welcome address. Many other dignitaries were also in attendance at the meeting.