ARUNACHAL PRADESH: KHANDU TO PREPARE ROADMAP TO MAKE AGRICULTURE A PROFITABLE BUSINESS

Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the state government is preparing a roadmap to make agriculture a profitable business for farmers

Addressing to the Northeast Kishan Morcha Samwad Baithak and Kishan Sabha CM Pema Khandu states that “Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with about 25 lakh hectares of cultivable land, yet only 3.6 hectares of this land are used. To exploit these potentials, the state government has made several key announcements for development of agriculture and allied sectors in the state.”

He also informed that an agriculture conclave was held recently, drawing experts from all over the country, to prepare such a roadmap. The CM also said the state government has clubbed the departments of agriculture and allied sectors under one ministry for proper coordination and efficiency.

He informed that the state government will establish an orange nursery, and an R&D and referral centre in Roing through the KVK and the State Horticultural Research Institute, in collaboration with the Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, with an outlay of Rs 2 crore.

He said support will be provided for establishing integrated pack houses in Dambuk and Pasighat on PPP mode, and that Rs 25 lakh has been earmarked for export promotion subsidy on orange.

The chief minister informed that Rs 18 crore has been proposed for establishment of six wholesale markets in Mahadevpur, Roing, Ruksin, Likabali, Kimin, and Bhalukpong to strengthen the agriculture produce marketing chain.

Under the CM’s Sashakt Kisan Yojana, Rs 70 crore has been earmarked for creation of an agriculture development society “for a flexible resource base at district level to select beneficiaries, provide targeted agricultural extension, agricultural inputs, implements and marketing support as per locally felt need of the district,” he said.

“Under this scheme, three ‘krishi mitras’ with graduation or diploma in agriculture/veterinary science will be appointed in each society to support its activities and management,” Pema said.

In order to encourage aggregation of produce and advantages of common facilities, the chief minister informed that under the Chief Minister’s Krishi Samuh Yojana, Rs 40 crore has been earmarked to encourage farmers producers organizations, livestock cooperatives, and fisheries and sericulture cooperatives.

“These societies with 150 members will be given a credit risk fund of Rs 5 crore as comfort to Apex Bank to provide collateral free loans of upto Rs 50 lakh,” he said.

“Proposal has been made to establish a nursery and R&D centre, and a referral laboratory for kiwi and orange in Ziro, in partnership with the College of Horticulture, Pasighat, and KVK,” Pema said, informing that the rootstock for kiwi from New Zealand will be imported through the college with an outlay of Rs 5 crore.

Later, addressing the kisan sabha, which was held in the afternoon, the chief minister advised the party workers to always uphold the image of the party. He also appealed them to spread awareness about various government schemes and flagships programmes.

Earlier Kishan Morcha members from the Northeastern states, including Arunachal, submitted reports on their activities in their respective states.

State BJP president Tapir Gao, DCM Chowna Mein, Agriculture Minister Dr