IMPHAL, December 3: District agriculture officers need to identify the actual population of farmers in the State to facilitate better distribution of government schemes and facilities, Agriculture minister Md Abdul Nasir said today.
He was inaugurating the State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) building and an award distribution ceremony held at the conference hall of the Directorate of Agriculture, Sajenthong, Imphal.
The minister said whenever government assistance or facilities are provided to the farmers the lists of names are inflated although in reality the numbers are much less.
He further urged the department officials against submitting to political interference or pressure while carrying out their official duties including distribution of schemes.
Officials of the department are only working for the betterment of the State’s farmers and should be co-operated by the farmers, he said, adding that for the same reason, the power of authority of the district officers need some enhancing.
He also urged the Dos who have gained the know-hows of the technologies from agriculturally advanced States like Punjab and Haryana to share their expertise and knowledge with the State farmers to improve productivity in the State.
Meanwhile, as part of the programme, three farmers who had the highest rice yield in the State and three from each district (Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Senapati, Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Tamenglong, Chandel) were awarded by the department.