Farmers to be provided with accurate and timely market information- Pema Khandu
Time has come when all the policy makers and technocrats need to focus on sustainable and resurgent Agriculture, which is robust, productive, climate resilient and pro farmer oriented- Pema Khandu
Guwahati
Chief Minister Pema Khandu today pitched for farmers to be provided with accurate and timely market information, saying this will enable them to make informed decisions about what to grow.
Speaking during the daylong North East Regional Conference on Transformation of Indian Agriculture here, Chief Minister said Arunachal produces world-class horticulture and agriculture crops, but due to lack of proper market information on demand and price, there is always mismatch between farm produce and the actual demand.
Expressing alarm that huge gap exists between actual market demand and production, Chief Minister urged the Union Commerce Ministry to step in to empower farmers to make informed decisions. He said hand holding is required in professional way to guide the farmers in their production and marketing decisions.
Khandu who is also the member of the High-Powered Committee on Transformation of Indian Agriculture formed by NITI Aayog said the focus of the conference was to gather valuable inputs and suggestions for preparing a roadmap for Transformation of Indian Agriculture in the next few years. The objective of the conference is to derive inputs from all the NE states and Industry experts which will be incorporated in a report for submission to the High Powered Committee formed by the NITI Aayog in the next meeting to be held on 16th August next at Mumbai.
Khandu said a time has come when all the policy makers and technocrats need to focus on sustainable and resurgent Agriculture, which is robust, productive, climate resilient and pro farmer oriented. The aim is to make policy decision on existing acts concerning Agriculture produce marketing, Contract farming, Essential commodities act (ECA) etc. as per the Terms of Reference of the NITI Aayog to provide the Agriculture sector a paradigm shift in the next few years to enhance farmers income.
The High-Powered Committee for Transformation of Indian Agriculture headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has been holding a series of conferences across the country for preparing a roadmap for the Agriculture sector, which will be submitted to the Government of India in the next few weeks.
The daylong conference organised by Government of Arunachal Pradesh in association with TERI and FICCI was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, FICCI NE Regional Advisory Council Chairman Ranjit Borthakur, TERI NE Regional Director Dipankar Saharia, APEDA AGM Sunita Rai and others. Apart from host of dignitaries, agri-experts, industry experts, officers of Agri & allied departments of Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh also attended the conference.
