Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has started a series of state-specific talks in an effort to accelerate the growth of the agricultural industry throughout India. On July 1, 2024, a significant meeting took place at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi, where the Union Minister met with a high-level delegation that included Assam's Agriculture Minister, Atul Bora.
The discussions covered a wide range of topics aimed at boosting agriculture and farmers' welfare in Assam. Key areas of focus included promoting soil health, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), increasing storage capacity, and enhancing horticulture. Minister Chouhan emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government remains committed to prioritizing the interests of farmers and the agricultural sector. He assured full support for Assam in organizing capacity-building workshops and training programs.
A significant part of the discussions revolved around the various schemes and programs of the Agriculture Ministry. Minister Chouhan highlighted the importance of creating infrastructure such as dry storage, cold storage, and processing units under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
He stressed the need for convergence with other schemes like the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). These efforts aim to enhance post-harvest management capacity and minimize post-harvest losses in Assam.
Minister Chouhan reiterated that the central and state governments will continue to collaborate closely to ensure that farmers in Assam do not face any difficulties. He assured that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare would provide full support for the development of the state's agricultural sector. Additionally, he highlighted the central government's policy to promote natural farming, noting the ample opportunities available in Assam for this practice.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, along with senior officials from both the Central and State Agriculture and Horticulture departments, were also present at the meeting, underscoring the collaborative effort to advance Assam's agricultural sector.
