Raipur. Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Minister Ram Vichar Netam today attended the Farmers’ Conference organized in the Farmers’ Auditorium of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur on the occasion of Lord Balram Jayanti (Farmers’ Day). He congratulated and wished the farmers and the people of the state on Lord Shri Balram Jayanti. Minister Netam said that Lord Shri Balram is the god of farming. This occasion is a historic and proud moment for the farmer brothers. He said that if the farmers are prosperous, wealthy and capable, then the country and the state will definitely be prosperous. He appealed to the farmers to do organic farming and save the indigenous varieties. During the program, he provided checks and equipment of grant amount under departmental schemes to the advanced farmers. In the conference, discussions were also held on natural farming, cow agriculture commercialization and oilseed production.
Minister Netam said that coordination of natural farming and animal husbandry is the need of the hour for the prosperity of farmers. Along with paddy cultivation, farmers need to move forward towards farming with more production with less fertilizer and water, so that the income of the farmers doubles and they become capable and prosperous farmers. He urged the farmers to adopt farming of flowers, fruits, spices and medicinal properties. Minister Mr. Netam said that on the concern of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for the farmers, the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Vishnudev Sai is constantly making efforts to provide technical, training and marketing facilities to the farmers. He said that due to the grace of Lord Shri Balram Ji, the entire state has received good rains. The crop will also be good. He said that by adopting agricultural technology, make farming profitable with the help of agricultural scientists.
Skill Development Minister Guru Khuswant Saheb, while addressing the program, called upon the farmers to conserve biodiversity. He said that the farmers are energetic and knowledgeable, yet wherever needed, the state government will provide all possible help to the farmers in the field of skill development and technology. He said that prosperity comes only from hard work and the inspiration to serve Mother Earth comes from Lord Balram. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, our government has honoured the farmers of Chhattisgarh by purchasing paddy from them at a reasonable price.
The programme was also addressed by Mahatma Gandhi Forestry and Horticulture University Vice Chancellor Shri Raviratan Saxena and Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr. Girish Chandel. Farmer representatives from across the state also shared their experiences in the programme. Farmers said that production costs are decreasing and soil fertility is increasing due to natural farming and organic methods. In the seminar, experts highlighted the possibilities of increasing oilseed production and said that the country’s dependence on edible oil imports can be reduced through oilseed crops. Along with this, cow-based agriculture business was described as a strong pillar of the rural economy.
