Minister Atul Bora: Lack of Agriculture-Irrigation coordination hits scheme implementation

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Agriculture Minister admitted in the State Assembly that the lack of seamless coordination between the Agriculture and Irrigation departments leads to problems in the implementation of various schemes.

Many legislators said today that the lack of irrigation facilities in many areas of the state is a hurdle for agriculture. They said that the government’s slogan of doubling farmers’ income in the state is far from becoming a reality.

During the Question Hour, AIUDF MLA Karimuddin Bhuyan raised a question in this regard. He said that the state has many farmers who cannot cultivate their lands due to the lack of irrigation facilities.

Minister Bora admitted it and said, “The coordination between the Agriculture and the Irrigation Departments is not seamless, leading to problems in the implementation of some schemes.” A few MLAs said that the farmers fail to get the required fertilizer. They said that the allotted quantity of fertilizer is not in sync with the area sown.

AIUDF MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed said, “The SoP (Standard Operating Procedure) prepared for the distribution of fertilizer is out of sync with the ground reality. Farmers have to run from pillar to post for fertilizer.”

BJP MLA Padma Hazarika said, “The use of chemical fertilizer should be reduced in the state. It lessens the fertility of the soil, besides lacing vegetables with harmful chemicals.”

Minister Bora said, “We issue licences to fertilizer retailers by taking all such issues into consideration. If we issue more retailers in a particular district, that will lead to the black marketing of fertilizers. I don’t want that.”

Bora said, “The government has taken several schemes to double farmers’ income. We are encouraging the farmers to opt for horticulture and floriculture instead of their traditional crops. For example, a review in the Morigaon district reveals that the income of farmers was Rs 84,291 in 2017–18. Their income rose to Rs 1,52,707 in 2020-21.”

Also Read:  Minister Atul Bora urges assimilation of scientific technology with natural farming

 Also Watch: