All Round Development of Agriculture and Empowerment of Farmers

All Round Development of Agriculture and Empowerment of Farmers is the Highest Priority of the Government- Radha Mohan Singh

National Level Agricultural Exposition to Share the Latest Technology and Initiatives Directly with Farmers 

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is committed to development of Agriculture, farmers’ welfare and safeguarding their interests said Union Agriculture and farmers Welfare Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh here today. Shri Singh said that the Prime Minister has introduced several initiatives to ensure income security to the farmers. That is why the focus of the new budget of Modi Government is on the villages, the poor and the farmers to bring in a qualitative change in their lives. It is our vision to double the incomes of the farmers.

Union Agriculture and farmers welfare Minister said that in order to fully utilise the vast possibilities in the agriculture sector, we need to empower our farmers with information and communication assets and services that will increase their productivity and incomes as well as protect their food security and livelihoods.The continued increase in globalisation and integration of food markets has intensified competition and efficacy in the agriculture sector, and has brought unique opportunities to include more small-holders into supply chains through ICT interventions.

          Shri Singh further said that in order to exhibit the latest agriculture and allied technologies to farmers, it has been decided to organize a National Level Agriculture Fair-cum-Exhibition ‘Krishi Unnati Mela’ jointly by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation , Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India and Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi at Indian Agriculture Research Institute from March 19-21, 2016.Hon’ble Prime Minister is inaugurating the event on 19^th March, 2016. He will visit the Theme Pavilion, give away Krishi Karman Awards and address the farmers. This was informed by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare while interacting with media here today. Shri Singh said that the three daysexhibition will be unique in itself having many outstanding features. Some of them arelisted below:

Event Highlights:

·        Theme Pavilion:This would be one of the major attractions of the Event which would show-case the entire scheme of things happening in the agriculture sector. The pavilion would have 8 zones viz. agro-climatic variety in India; water as an input to agriculture; Soil Health; Technology theme showcasing important Government schemes; Animal Husbandry and Fisheries; Agri- rejuvenation, Agri- Technology; and Horticulture.

·        Live Demonstration: One of the main attractions in the fair is the display of agriculture & horticulture crops, Animal husbandry, Innovative technologies and Mechanisation in four big plots. The farmers can witness the live demonstration of the following:

o   Field Crops:  The leading and most productive varieties in different production conditions of wheat, mustard, lentil, chick pea.

o   Vegetable Crops: The leafy and Cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower), lettuce, etc., shall be visible in open conditions and tomato, capsicum, cucumber etc., under low-cost polyhouses for higher returns supported by micro-irrigation options

o   Horticultural and Flower crops: Fruits of importance such as Mango, guava which are remunerative as well as value added products shall be on displaywith best performing variety details and their saplings. In the flower crops, those which are for loose/cut flower production, for garden as well as landscaping ornamentals shall be on display under natural conditions.

o   Animal breeds of cattle, buffalo, goats and poultry

o   Vertical horticulture with vegetable and flower crop species under organic agriculture practice

o    Micro irrigation, waste water utilization, Conventional and modern rain fed farming technologies, Poly houses, Protected Cultivation.

o   Mechanization

·        Display and direct access to latest technologies and Government initiatives: Approximately 500 stalls are proposed to be set up in three different Hangers. The following Departments, Institutes, private. Organizations, etc. have been invited to put up a stall in the Exhibition.

o   All the 3 Departments viz. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture Research and Education and Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

o   Sister Department like Food Processing Industries, Departments of Rural Development, Land Resources, Fertilizers ,Panchayati Raj, Water Resources, etc. have been invited to display their interventions in the Exhibition.

o   Research Institutions and KrishiVigyanKendras under ICAR, State Agricultural Universities, State Department of Agriculture, Horticulture.

o   Input companies

o   Private companies

·        Seminars and Conferences:Number of seminars andFarmers- Scientists interactions on varying topics are planned in 5 different halls and they can be witnessed by the farmers in all the districts of the country through web-casting.

·        Krishi Karman Awards:During the inauguration day, the prestigious National levelKrishi Karman Awards would also be presented.  8 State Governments would be given awards to be received by the Chief Minister of respective state. Besides this, 3 states would also be given commendation awards for total food grains production.

·        Sale of New and Improved Varieties of Seeds: Every year during this time of the year, IARI, Pusa organizes a KrishiMela for the farmers of nearby states. A special attraction to farmers in this Mela is the sale of ‘Pusa’ quality Seeds of leading varieties of rice (Basmati and non-basmati), pigeon pea, mung bean, vegetables and planting materials of mango and citrus. Adequate arrangements are made to make them available over the three days.

·        This year, this PusaMela is up-scaled to a National Level Event. Separate Pandal would be set up to facilitate the farmers’to purchase high volume quality seeds during KrishiUnnatiMela. Low volume seeds would be sold from the counters set up by private seed companies. 

·        Miscellaneous

·        Farmers Participation: More than one lakh farmers are expected to participate in this mega event from all over the country. Farmers would also be able to view the many attractions of the event at the District/ Block headquarters through repeat telecasts and webcasts.