Hilly regions need special interventions to boost agri sector output
Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Tage Taki has called for a stronger financial support from the Central Government in expanding cultivation acreage while urging the industry to come forward and help in the state’s agri sector.
Currently, whatever agriculture production is being done in Arunachal Pradesh is mostly for self-consumption. “Unless there is large scale cultivation, we cannot go for exports and for that we need to perk up post-harvest infrastructure which includes setting up cold storages and collection centres,” he told an ASSOCHAM Webinar held 31 July 2021.
Taki urged the industry to help the state get Organic Certificate for its organic produce from the Central Government.
If there are issues being faced by the industry, he urged them to come up with suggestions and conduct coordination meeting. The state government would tweak the rules if required, he assured.
“NABARD (the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) is aware of our state’s financial condition, we have limited funds and cannot afford large-scale fencing,” the Minister informed the webinar, highlighting dearth of grazing land due to which animals have started to encroach on farms. To stop animal encroaching on farms, he called for a stronger financial support from the Central Government to set up fencing around the fields.
Talking about the state’s agriculture potential, he pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh can produce the world’s most exotic fruits, medicinal plants which can cater to the entire world’s requirements and help bring down import bills of edible oil.
“Whenever there is agriculture, horticulture and allied department planning and programming underway, they (the Central Government) should undertake separate policy formulation for hilly areas which includes states like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh for agro-based expansion.”
The Minister said current policies where farmers are being imparted skills are more suitable to large states such as Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and others. For hilly regions, such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and alike, there is a need for special interventions.
Noting that his government is facing various issues in implementing agriculture sector related policies of the Centre, Taki informed that about 60% of the Central Government’s budgeting system for agriculture sector is for post-harvest activities, “whereas here we need about 80% of budget for area expansion.”
Taki shared a new policy of his government. “This year, we have implemented a new policy, ‘one district one product’ for large scale production as part of the Central Government’s clarion call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat. NABARD, he added, supports this policy.
In his address during the webinar, NABARD deputy general manager B.P. Mishra highlighted various funds and schemes that are being provided even though there are plenty of challenges like transportation, lack of post-harvest infrastructure and other issues being faced by the farmers in Arunachal Pradesh.
“NABARD on its part, is providing funds to the farmers in the state to increase the productivity so that they can fetch better price and market their produce in a better way,” added Mishra.
Sharing his perspective, ASSOCHAM North-East Regional Council Chairman Mahendra Agarwal noted that lack of infrastructure is one of the biggest bottlenecks for the development of agriculture in the state. Availability of adequate credit for agriculture operation is also a major concern faced by the state’s farmers.
“The Central Government has launched several schemes to promote agriculture in the state and industry would work in tandem with the authorities to realise the state’s agriculture potential,” he said at the webinar “Arunachal Pradesh Agro Sectors Logistics, Challenges and Solutions’. #agriculture #manufacturing #investment #banking /fiinews.com
