GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that agriculture is the mainstay for the economic growth of the State and mooted that Assam Agricultural University (AAU) should take the lead in preparing a broad roadmap for agriculture driven growth in the State.
Speaking at a one-day brain-storming session on 'agrarian stress mitigation for higher productivity, profitability and permanency in Assam' at Assam Administrative Staff College on Friday, he said that a broad roadmap guided by the latest technology for agriculture and allied sectors would stimulate sustainable development in the state. He, therefore, asked the Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University Dr. KM Buzarbaruah to take a proactive role in charting out a road map to help agriculture and its allied sectors to catalyst development of Assam.
Sonowal said, "As much as 60 per cent of the people of Assam are dependent on agriculture and if Assam has to shine, the agriculture has to be made sustainable to bolster development of Assam." Referring to the success stories that Rajasthan and Gujarat have scripted in agriculture in spite of their adversaries, Sonowal said that he does not see any reason why Assam cannot make steady progress in the field of agriculture.
Stating that the 'Chief Minister Samagra Gram Unnayan Yojana' (CMSGUY) which has been launched as a corollary of the Vision 2022 set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the farm income, Sonowal said that as a part of CMSGUY, 10119 tractors would be given to the self-help groups on December 10, to double the farm income. He also said that Government of Assam has geared up in bringing about transformation in agriculture sector, hence the system of innovation laboratory has been introduced to lend innovation, empowerment and skill development in the sector.
Reiterating his government's commitment to sensitise grwoth in Agriculture, Sonowal said that to strengthen the marketing chain of agricultural produce, new markets are being explored in South East Asian countries taking the advantage of the Act East Policy.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora while speaking on the occasion elaborated on different activities that his ministry has rolled out for agricultural development of the state. The one day brain storming session which was organised by State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) witnessed the assembly of agricultural scientists, experts, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Officials, progressive farmers who shared different problems and prospects of the sector.
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