Gyalshing, 18th May, 2020 (IPR): The Hon’ble Minister-cum-Area MLA (Gyalshing- Bermiok Constituency) Shri. Lok Nath Sharma chaired the ‘Input Distribution cum Training Program’ organized by the ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute at the Village Administrative Center, 26-Pecherek, Hee Patal, West Sikkim.
The Minister in his address to the public present mentioned that the role of the farming community and the rural populous has been huge during the COVID19 pandemic in the state. He mentioned that during the tough times which the country and state is facing has shown that the state made the wise decision to empower the farmers in Sikkim via various incentives, inputs and other opportunities which has helped them to be producers. He also asserted that the farming community of Sikkim should use this opportunity to work harder and make Sikkim ‘self-reliant’ as mentioned by the Prime Minister of India. He urged the rural community to strive forward and make sure that the State progresses under their active participation.
He also extended his gratitude to the ICAR members who have shown interest to work for the benefit of the farmers. He also urged the farmers to work and get trained so that their produces can be multiplied in the times to come. He then mentioned that similar intensive training would be provided to them so that the modern knowledge can be implemented in the rural parts of Sikkim which in turn would be beneficial for the state.
He aforesaid that the state government has directed policies which favor the farmers, the incentives provided for the dairy farmers, the organic producers and others are made by the government to encourage them to do better. He also encouraged them by mentioning that the lockdown has made the state value the contributions of the farming community of Sikkim.
He also informed about the financial provision under MSME and encouraged to take benefit of the loan to adopt farming as a lucrative profession to earn their livelihood. He informed that the state government is fully committed to support farmers technologically and financially, dairy farmers will receive financial incentives of rupees Eight per liter milk delivered at the collection centre in every three months since April 2020. Besides, the state government will always be supportive to uplift progressive and hardworking farmers with required assistance and additional facilities, he added. He also informed about the declarations made by the Government to boost farming spirit and projected its road map to promote farming as a profession to make people self reliant in the state.
The HM congratulated the public for helping the State Administration by following proper orders during the COVID19 pandemic. He thanked them for being cooperative and urged them to keep doing it so that no cases of COVID19 would be in Sikkim and that Sikkim would remain in the green zone.
Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Dir. (ICAR) informed the public regarding the genesis of the ICAR in India and Sikkim whilst giving information about the developments in the field of Agriculture and how these developments are catered to the farming community to produce more. Dr. Avasthe also stated that in the coming days the ICAR team would be approaching the areas again and conduct training which would help the farmers of Sikkim.
The Scientists of ICAR present also gave insightful information to the public and urged the public to attend the training in order to learn the modern methods and implement it in their respective villages.
Lastly, the HM also distributed Bio-Fertilizers, Bio-Pesticides, Sprayer Machines, Ban-Raja chicks and other agricultural inputs presented by ICAR and tokens of Chaff Cutter and Backyard Poultry to beneficiaries of the area were also handed over by the HM under the schemes of AH&VS Department.
The Minister was accompanied by the Officials of ICAR, Agriculture, Horticulture, KVK, AH&VS and BDO Hee-Martam.