Jamshedpur, March 25: The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said measures are being taken to bring prosperity in the field of agriculture to boost the production of the small holdings, reduce production costs and maintain the productivity.
The Minister was speaking at a seminar on Agriculture for Prosperity and Sustainable Development organised by Vidyarthi Kalyan Nyas, Bhopal and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Pusa, New Delhi.
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Director IARI – Krishi Jagran; Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension); Dr. J. Kumar, Dean College of Agriculture, Pantnagar; N.C. Gautam Vice-Chancellor MGCGV, Chitrakoot; and Prof. K.M.L. Pathak, Vice Chancellor, DUVASU, Mathura were also present on the occasion.
The Minister said that the biggest challenge for the agricultural sector is to make smallholdings profitable and engage rural youth in agriculture.
He added that the task is difficult but not impossible. He also said that work is going on to provide small farmers distinct technological option so that they can choose as per the resources available to them.
He said that to achieve that, it is important that agricultural scientists should develop different techniques as per the requirement of different regions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras and advertising network should make them available to the farmers without delay.
Minister further said that in the last two years government has sanctioned 40 percent extra funds for the agricultural universities in the states.
He also said that, central government has presented a guideline to establish Central Agricultural Universities to ensure quality assurance in agricultural education.
