SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Feb 5: Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato on Sunday said that there is a need to strengthen the marketing and market system to ensure a fair price for the produce of the farmers. There should also be a proper arrangement for the preservation of perishable agricultural products so that in case of excess production, farmers are not forced to sell their products at throwaway prices.
The Speaker was addressing the crowds at the conclusion ceremony of the three-day Agrotech Kisan Mela at the Birsa Agricultural University. Notably, the aim of the mela was to increase the income of farmers through agricultural modernization. More than one lakh people including about 50 thousand farmers from different districts of the state participated in the mela.
Speaker Mahato further said that hardworking farmers like those in Jharkhand are very few in the world, and their lifestyle and food habits are also very simple, yet their economic progress is little to none. “There is a need to seriously think and make efforts to improve the economic condition of the food-providing farmers. We also need to make sure to make their lives better with the techniques of Agricultural Universities and Research Institutes. BAU should try to come in the category of top agricultural universities of the country,” he added.
Kanke MLA Samri Lal, also present on the occasion said that millets like Madua, Gundli, and Kodo have been cultivated and used in Jharkhand for centuries. It is fortunate that now the whole world understands the importance of millet. It will take the identity of Jharkhand to a whole new level.
BAU Vice-Chancellor Omkar Nath Singh in his presidential speech said that 40 delicious dishes prepared from nutritious grains (millets) have been displayed in the mela, which is also being sold so that the popularity of such grains can increase among the common people.
He further said that various types of agricultural machinery, drone technology, hydroponic farming, forestry, different types of dairy and fish products, animal production, management and health care techniques, forestry, meteorology, soil and water management, crop improvement, Management and protection techniques, biotechnology, processed products of horticulture crops among others have been displayed at the mela.
Former Commissioner Jatashankar Chowdhary, Director of Central Tasar Research and Training Institute Nagdi K Satyanarayana and senior officials of BAU distributed prizes to the winners of the horticulture exhibition during the closing ceremony.
On this occasion, the Speaker also honoured four farmers including Virendra Oraon, Lalan Sharma, Rajesh Baraik, Shambhu Kumar and the Managing Director of a Farmer Producer Organization Rajendra Mahto for their special contribution to the field of agriculture.
About 2000 entries were registered in the horticulture exhibition by farmers, entrepreneurs, institutions and flower-ornamental plant enthusiasts from different districts of the state.
Naresh Kumar Mahato of Dhanbad got the first position by getting a total of 15 prizes. He got most of the awards in the category of flowers. Shambhu Kumar of Bajra, Itki Road, Ranchi got the overall second position. Most of their entries were in the form of ornamental plants. Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, located in Kanke, got the third position. The institute had a special collection in the field of flowers.
Ram Kumar Sahu of Hochar village got the maximum prizes in the vegetable competition, while Anant Lal Mahto got a maximum of six prizes for processed and preserved products of horticulture crops. Sido Kanhu Park and Nakshatra Forest Management were also awarded for their horticulture model.
In the sub-thematic pandal, the jury awarded first prize to Integrated Farming System, second prize to Absorbent Cereals (Millets) and third prize to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Animal Health Management.
Among Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Regional Research Centers, KVK East Singhbhum was awarded first prize, RK Mission Divyayan KVK, Ranchi and KVK Gumla second and Regional Research Center Chianki third.
