IMPHAL, January 14: Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Mohanbhai Kundariya today exhorted farmers in the State to practice organic farming in order to maintain a good and healthy society.
The MoS was addressing the inaugural function of a new Academic block of the Central Aricultural University and farmers’ interaction programme held at the university.
According to him, the present government at the Centre is giving more emphasis in organic farming and as a result Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently has taken up a special scheme for farmer’s welfare to encourage organic farming.
He further said that excessive use of chemical fertilizer in agriculture and vegetation items is not only harmful for the people but also harms the soil.
Calling on the famers to take full advantage of the farmer’s welfare schemes already taken up by the Centre, he appealed to the famers in Manipur to stop using poison pesticide and insecticide in the agricultural lands and fields and avoid deadly diseases for humans like cancer.
He asked the famers to consult experts for more innovative and effective technique to increase production rather than using harmful chemicals.
Hailing Prime Minister Modi’s initiative which aims at producing agricultural products in abundant from every States, the MoS said that increasing dairy production was another aim of the government.
He appealed to the farmers of Manipur to join the trend of dairy popularisation adding that assured to give support from Central government.
The programme was also attended by Agriculture minister of Manipur Abdul Nasir, Lok Sabha MP Th Meinya and CAU Professor Premjit.
Mohanbhai also visited the Manipur Dairy Farm at Porompat and inspected the production of milk.
Later in the day speaking to media persons at the BJP Manipur office after a recenption programme, the MoS also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently launched the Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana with the main objective of solving the irrigation problems in the country.
Speaking to media persons at the BJP Manipur office, the MoS said through this scheme, the government will prepare a project for every district to provide help to any farmer facing water scarcity or irrigation problems.
Once, it is properly implemented it will provide enormous help to the farmers and at the same time encourage double or triple cropping, he observed.
The MoS who is on a three day visit to the State said since he landed here yesterday he has already visited several agricultural fields and listened to farmers grievances.
He said he and his team had compiled a report of the grievances of the farmers in the State which will be submitted to the Prime Minister.
This way the Prime Minister will be able to hear the grievances and the opinions of the farmers and act accordingly, the MoS informed the media persons.
The Indian government, he said is preparing a new budget for Agriculture which is help in taking up various schemes for farmers.
Earlier in the day, the MoS had also inspected the party office where a grand reception for him was organised.
Speaking at his reception ceremony, the MoS said his visit to the State was to get a first-hand report of the farmers’ needs and opinions.
This visit was made in accordance with the Prime Minister’s advice to visit every State and take assessment and help in implementing the centrally sponsored schemes in the States, he added.
Next week, he said he will visit Sikkim where a two-day seminar on Agricultural sector is being organised which will be attended by Agriculture ministers and concerned secretaries of all States.
The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.
We will take the opinion of every state on Agriculture so that farmer can get benefits in future, he added.
The resolution of the seminar will reflect on the Agriculture budget which will be prepared in February or March of the current year, the MoS added.
The Modi government is working tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the country and we need to strengthen the party to meet the aspirations of the people, he added.
We know that Manipur is going to the polls in 2017 and the BJP must come to power, he added.
The people are responsible to bring good governance in Manipur, he observed.
BJP Manipur president Th Chaoba said the NDA government in the Centre is very much concerned with the Agriculture sector.
We are also aware that agriculture is the main occupation in Manipur, he added.
Chaoba said recently, the Prime Minister had assured crop security for the farmers of the country.