New Delhi, Jun 29, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk
Agartala, Jun 29. An agri-interaction meet was organized at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre on the occasion of visit of Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare , Kailash Choudhary on 28 th June, 2022. Shri Saradindu Das, Director, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Tripura, Dr. Phani Bushan Jamatia, Director, Directorate of Horticulture, Tripura, Dr. R. K. Saha, Dean, College of Fisheries, and Dr. T. K. Maiti, Principal,College of Agriculture along with other officers from Agriculture and other departments were present in the meeting.
Dr. Biswajit Das, Joint Director showed various agri-technologies developed at ICAR Tripura Centre such as high yielding paddy varieties, integrated farming system models, horticulture, mushroom and fishery based production technologies. He appreciated the new poultry breed BND and cross bred pig which were displayed in the exhibition.
The Minister interacted with the Chairpersons and CEOs of all the FPOs/FPCs as well as with the officials of Cluster Based Business Organization (CBBO) of the state. He specifically emphasized on the responsibilities of the CBBOs in the formation and successive growth of an FPO. Chairpersons of various FPOs apprised the Minister about different activities carried out by them and also requested for time-to-time guidance and help from various development departments.
It was specifically instructed by the Minister to work as per the guideline’s laid out for the FPOs and CBBOs. He suggested to prepare project on post-harvest handling of agri-produce such as grading, sorting, packaging and processing apart from quality seed production, so that farmers can get higher prise of their produce. Finally, he said that formation of FPOs is one of the important programmes of Central Government for holistic development of Indian agriculture.
The Minister also visited experimental fields and appreciated the pineapple and Kamalam production technologies developed at this ICAR centre. He also encouraged all the scientists to work on technologies which can increase farmer’s income. Such meeting was organized for the first time the state and all the delegates thank the Minister, Kailash Choudhary for his valuable suggestions and directions.
All the stakeholders of FPOs assured the Minister that they will work dedicatedly for agricultural development of the state by strengthening the FPOs.