Foundation stone for 50 food processing units laid in Jharkhand

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Thursday laid the foundation stone for 50 Food Processing Units worth Rs 271 crore and which will provide nearly 6000 jobs.

They also launched Jaivik Jharkhand to facilitate organic farming on the first day of the two-day Global Agriculture & Food Summit being organised here.

Addressing the gathering comprised of state ministers, business and foreign delegates and farmers, Singh said that Mahatma Gandhi used to say India is a country of villages and the country's soul resided there. His clear message was to strengthen the villages after independence, which in turn meant, strengthening the farmers.

Stating that the credit of introducing Kissan Credit Card went to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and several other reforms took place like rural road development and in agriculture sector during Vajpayee regime, Singh said Jharkhand government is on the right direction to realise Vajpayee's dreams.

Jharkhand has great agriculture potential. It will give real strength to the country. Small and marginal farmers have to be given special attention to uplift their situation, he said.

Stating that soil health card has greater role in the uplift of farmers, he said till 2014 there was no yardstick for soil health card, but since 2014 till now 54 lakh soil health cards were made.

India is the largest producer of milk now and the country is moving faster towards micro-irrigation, he added. 

Coming down heavily on pending agriculture projects despite Swaminathans report placed in 2006, Singh said that the Narendra Modi government has taken many steps in the agriculture sector. The centre increased agriculture budget, he added.

Farmers are being given loans. Production of pulses has gone up tremendously and has become cheaper. Government has given safeguard and provided sufficient cushion to the farmers, he said.

Predicting Jharkhand will become number one in fish farming, Singh said that Chief Minister Raghubar Das is committed to better the life of the farmers and the Centre is providing all help and support.

 

(With inputs from agencies.)