हिंदी
Chandigarh, September 11 – Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Mr. JP Dalal said that when economy of the country was severely affected due to the closure of industrial and other commercial activities during on-going COVID-19 Pandemic, agriculture was the only sector which kept the economy alive.
Mr. Dalal was speaking in a webinar held here today on the utilization of funds for agricultural infrastructure under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and on the benefits of the new farm ordinances promulgated by the Central Government to boost agricultural reforms.
He said he is very proud to say that even in this hour of crisis, ‘Annadata’ of the country played a pivotal role in saving the economy. He appealed to the farmers to do farming by using state-of-the-art technology. He said that ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is the vision of Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, under which both agricultural sector and farmers have to be made self-reliant.
Urging the officials of Horticulture Department that the branding of seeds of fruits, vegetables and flowers should be done in the name of Haryana and a new product should be made so that cheap and quality seeds can be made available to the farmers. He said that even if this brand is required to be brought in PPP mode it should be done. He said that in mushroom production Haryana has a name in the country and for this, a processing plant should be established under the brand name of Haryana.
Mr. Dalal said that in milk production also, Haryana has to be brought to the forefront. Vita should also promote its brand and milk producing farmers in Haryana should also go for a study tour to the Anand Amul milk plant in Gujarat.
The Minister said that State Government is taking every decision in the interest of farmers and will continue to do so in future as well. The government intends that the farmer should be made self-reliant and plans are being made for this.
He said that three Ordinances namely, The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which has been recently introduced by the Centre are for the betterment of the farmers only. He said that there is not even a single line in these Ordinances which is against farmers’ interests.
On this occasion, the Agriculture Minister also appealed to the opposition parties to read these Ordinances well before doing politicizing on this issue. Public support is paramount in democracy. The doors are always open for the farmers to share their views and if any suggestions are made in the interest of the farmer, the State Government will certainly welcome that.
