NAGAON: A field day was organized at the millet fields of Kaki-Beltola area which was taken under model millets project by National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) recently.
The programme was initiated by DDM-NABARD Rajendar Perna, DAO-Hojai, Ranjith Mishra Bhagawati, Anchalik Panchayat president, Philinga Bordoloi, secretary to the implementing agency Gramya Unnayan Sangstha, Mukut Deka, etc.
During the event, the participants were also provided with super bags, vermicompost units, pulverizer machines etc. Speaking on the occasion, DDM-NABARD, Rajendar Perna informed that even after putting in the desired efforts by all the stakeholders, the final harvest is less than the achievements in other districts. He expressed his complete satisfaction in the commitment displayed by the farmers at ground level, especially women farmers.
He also said the harvest under the pilot will be procured and after due processing the seeds will be safely stored in the seed bank under the pilot. Besides, he also informed that with the efforts of NABARD and Gramya Unnayan Sangstha, the FPO on millets along with maize, baby/sweet corn had been already registered as Naba Dimorupathar Agro Producer Company Limited and requested the farmers to become active members of that FPC, so that they can reap the benefits of aggregation and economies of scale. The seeds from the seed bank will be utilized for sowing by nearly 200-300 farmers of the FPC during the coming season.
Ranjith Mishra Bhagawati, Nagaon DAO while guiding the participants appreciated the efforts of NABARD and implementing agency Gramya Unnayan Sangstha for implementing the Pilot on millets in Hojai, as there was no programme on millets in Hojai from Department of Agriculture. He said that the department will always be available for extending all the support needed for development of farmers and also the FPC.
Besides, he also shared information about various machineries available from the Department of Agriculture at subsidized rates for the benefit of farmers. Since most of the benefits are being routed through FPO/ FPC mode, he suggested that as many as farmers to become members of the Naba Dimorupathar APCL.
Anchalik Panchayat president Philinga Bordoloi congratulated the implementing agency as well as the officials of NABARD for taking such flagship initiative for the benefits of the farmers in the greater areas.
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