CM inaugurates Kisan Mela at GBPUAT, praises varsity for ushering in Green Revolution
By Our Staff Reporter
Pantnagar (US Nagar), 4 Oct: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 116th All India Farmers’ Fair and Agro Industry Exhibition at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), here, today. Later, he also visited various stalls and, also, virtually inaugurated the Harela Garden.
During the programme, the CM also honoured progressive farmers of the state and presented them mementoes and certificates. In all, 210 big and 190 small stalls of various firms have been set up at the fair.
Dhami observed that GBPUAT has achieved a distinct identity as the pioneer of the Green Revolution in India. He said that Kisan Melas play a crucial role in the progress of the farmers as they can interact with the scientists and the entrepreneurs and be updated about latest technologies and other information related to agriculture at one place. Farmers get all the essential items related to agriculture and also can procure advanced seeds, saplings, agricultural machinery and organic fertilisers and pesticides. He expressed the hope that the farmers will definitely benefit from the technical information being disseminated during the fair.
The CM also observed that the Kisan Mela at GBPUAT is actually a Kumbh of agriculture. He asserted that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts are being made on a large scale to ensure the farmers of the country become better skilled, prosperous and equipped with modern amenities. Today, on the one hand, the use of technology and innovation is being promoted to increase the yield of various crops, and on the other, the Modi government is also ensuring an increase in the income of farmers by giving them increased MSP on all major crops.
The Chief Minister said that Modi’s commitment to farmers can be gauged from the fact that this time when he took oath as the Prime Minister, the first thing he did was to approve Kisan Samman Nidhi for the farmers. Through the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, today, more than 8 lakh farmers of Uttarakhand are getting financial support. Under the leadership of Modi, the central government has recently approved a total of seven new schemes which will cost around Rs 14,000 crores aimed at improving the standard of living of the farmers.
The Chief Minister added that, with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is also working continuously with determination for the uplift and prosperity of the farmers. At present, loans up to three lakh rupees are being given to the farmers in the state without interest. With the aim of providing agricultural equipment to the farmers, subsidy of up to 80 percent is being given on purchasing agricultural equipment through the “Farm Machinery Bank” scheme. He said that farmers are being given a bonus of Rs 20 per quintal on wheat purchase, the rate of sugarcane has also been increased by Rs 20 per quintal. He said that the state government has made irrigation from the canals absolutely free for the farmers.
Dhami reminded that a provision of Rs 200 crore has been made for the construction of polyhouses. To take rain-based farming to new heights in the hills, an “Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project” has also been approved at a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore. Praising the University, the CM added that it is working to realise “Unnat Krishi-Samriddh Kisan”. He said that various species of crops, vegetables and fruits are developed here, and many advanced agricultural techniques are benefiting the farmers.
Vice Chancellor of the University Prof Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan claimed that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dhami, the state is rapidly making progress. He stated that 28 varieties of seeds of pulses have been approved in the whole country, of which GBPUAT has been allocated 10 varieties of pulse seeds. He claimed that the university is going to become global. In the last two years, the university has signed 7 international level MoUs and 300 farmer training programmes have been organised. The University is also working on drones and AI technology (Artificial Intelligence). He shared that the clone of the Badri cow (cow breed native to Uttarakhand hills) is also being prepared by the university.
On this occasion MLAs Shiv Arora, Tilak Raj Behad, State Minister ranked Anil Kapoor Dabbu, former MLA Rajesh Shukla, Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat, District Magistrate Uday Raj Singh, SSP Manikant Mishra were among those present.